Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (Feb 2020)

Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields Do Not Affect LTP-Like Plasticity in Healthy Humans

  • Fioravante Capone,
  • Fioravante Capone,
  • Giovanni Pellegrino,
  • Francesco Motolese,
  • Francesco Motolese,
  • Mariagrazia Rossi,
  • Mariagrazia Rossi,
  • Gabriella Musumeci,
  • Gabriella Musumeci,
  • Vincenzo Di Lazzaro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00014
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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IntroductionSeveral studies explored the biological effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) in vitro, reporting the induction of functional changes in neuronal activity. In particular, ELF-MFs can influence synaptic plasticity both in vitro and in animal models but some studies reported an increase in long-term potentiation (LTP) whereas others suggested its reduction. However, no specific study has investigated such effect on humans.AimsTo evaluate whether ELF-MFs affect the propensity of the human cortex to undergo LTP-like plasticity.MethodsWe designed a randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled, cross-over study on 10 healthy subjects. Cortical plasticity was induced by intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) before and after 45-min ELF-MFs (75 Hz; 1.8 mT) or sham exposure and was estimated by measuring the changes of motor evoked potentials (MEP) amplitude before and after each iTBS.ResultsNo adverse events were reported. No significant effects of ELF-MFs on cortical plasticity were found.ConclusionWhole-brain exposure to ELF-MFs (75 Hz; 1.8 mT) is safe and does not seem to significantly affect LTP-like plasticity in human motor cortex.

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