An Analysis of EEG Nonlinear Interdependence for TMS over the Left VLPFC during Emotion Regulation

Abstract

Studies point out the importance of left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) in the process of cognitive reappraisal as well as in the functional brain network. In the current study, we investigated how the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied over the left VLPFC influences the inter-regional nonlinear interdependence of brain dynamics during cognitive reappraisal. The fifteen participants were required to view or reappraise unpleasant and neutral images while their scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) were recorded. Single-pulse TMS was applied over the left VLPFC at 300ms after each image onset. Our results showed that the nonlinear interdependence between central region and other brain regions under reappraisal was significantly larger than those when negative/neutral images were watched only, which was found when the TMS was applied over the left VLPFC. Nevertheless, no such significant difference was found either when TMS applied over the vertex or without TMS intervention. The results of the current study demonstrate that single-pulse TMS intervention over the left VLPFC promote the brain functional connectivity and facilitate the process of emotion regulation.