Practice Makes Plasticity: 10-Hz rTMS Enhances LTP-like Plasticity in Musicians and Athletes

Background: Musicians and athletes undergo intensive motor training through the practice of an instrument or sport have demonstrated use-dependent plasticity. We know less, however, about whether brains musicians respond to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), differently than those without extensive training. Methods: evaluated cortex excitability before after rTMS protocol (10-Hz left cortex, 1.5 seconds on/58.5 off at 80% resting threshold, 20 minutes) in combination with oral administration D-cycloserine (DCS) placebo 10 healthy participants. In a secondary covariate analysis, we compared results between self-identified (M&As) non-musicians (non-M&As). Bins single pulses were collected 3 timepoints rTMS. Mixed repeated measures Kruskal-Wallis test was used compare post-rTMS MEP (motor-evoked potentials) amplitudes across time four conditions. Results: found that M&As (n=4) did not higher baseline corticomotor excitability. However, 10-Hz DCS strongly facilitated (MEPs) relative non-M&As (F(1,4)= 7.8, p= .027, η2=.40). Grand averages all normalized points conditions showed marked increase for (H(3)=29.23, p<.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest learning create neuronal environment more responsive plasticity-inducing events, including Results may explain one factor contributing high inter-individual variability data hold implications paradigms facilitate long term potentiation-like activation key networks. Conflicts interest: None Funding: This work supported by National Institute General Medical Sciences Institutes Health under P20GM130452, Center Biomedical Research Excellence, Neuromodulation. Disclosures: