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. 2024 Jan 9;34(2):bhad515. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhad515

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Panel A represents an overview of the DLPFC–PAS paradigm. To evaluate the neuroplasticity of the left DLPFC, participants underwent the DLPFC–PAS paradigm, involving repeated paired stimuli of PNS and TMS and TMS–EEG measurement. PAS consisted of 180 repeated paired stimuli of PNS to the median nerve and TMS over the left DLPFC. ISIs between PNS and TMS during the PAS were set based on the latency of SSEPs individually. We assessed the neuroplasticity using measurements combining TMS over the left DLPFC with EEG (i.e. TMS–EEG) before, 0, 15, and 30 min after the PAS. In TMS–EEG, TEP and ERSP were measured to evaluate the neuroplasticity. Panel B indicates a scatter plot of the latency of the SSEP N20 components. The filled plots display individual data in the HC and TRD groups. The unfilled circles and error bars represent the mean values and SDs, respectively. There was no significant difference in the SSEP latency between the groups (P-value < 0.05). Panels C–F indicate the average waveforms of TEP of the AF3, F1, F3, F5, and F7 channels corresponding to the stimulation site (i.e. the left DLPFC) with ESs. The left and right columns indicate the average TEP (B and C) with ESs (D and E) for the HC (n = 29) and TRD groups (n = 56), respectively. Black, purple, blue, and yellow lines represent the average waveforms of TEP with ESs at the Pre, Post0, Post15, and Post30 measurement points, respectively. The horizontal lines marked above the TEP waveforms correspond to the color of the TEP waveform and indicate the time when there were significant differences in the TEP (the FDR-corrected P-value < 0.05) between before (Pre) and after the DLPFC–PAS paradigm (Post0, Post15, and Post30). G and H indicate a scatter plot of TEP changes from 30 ms to 40 ms poststimulation and from 40 ms to 80 ms poststimulation, respectively. The red and blue plots display individual data in the HC and TRD groups, respectively. There was a significant group difference in TEP changes from 30 ms to 40 ms poststimulation at Post15; the TEP increase in the TRD group was significantly smaller than in the HC group (P-value < 0.05). PNS, peripheral nerve stimulation.