A) Experimental design. The effect of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic
Stimulation – intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (rTMS-iTBS) on
long-term memory was assessed using the Novel Odor Recognition memory task in
awake rats after a 3-week habituation period (represented by the blue bar). B)
iTBS protocol. C) Distribution of Learning Index scores for individual young,
Aged-Unimpaired (AU), and Aged-Impaired (AI) rats, derived from performance on
the Morris water maze. D) Graphs showing no statistically significant
differences in total exploration time between sham and stimulated animals. E)
Graphs of Recognition Index scores in sham and stimulated animals: young (Y) and
AU sham-treated groups displayed above chance memory for the sample odorant,
whereas AI did not. The Y and AI groups that received post-sample rTMS
demonstrated robust 24-hour memory, whereas AU rats exhibited no recognition.
One-sample t-test compared to chance, 0.5 (i.e., no retention),
*p < 0.05, **p < 0.001.
Error bars = standard error.