Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation enhance memory in stress-disordered cynomolgus monkeys by altering the electrical activity of neurons

Numerous studies have shown that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can improve cognitive function and symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, little research has applied TMS to patients with stress disorder, and its mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we established a stress model in non-human primates (NHP) to observe changes in memory and behavior following repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) intervention, and further explored the effects of rTMS on neuronal firing.

We found that rTMS promoted the recovery of memory and behavior in cynomolgus monkeys with stress disorder, which may be associated with alterations in neuronal firing frequency. Upon further exploration and research, we found that the 10 Hz protocol elicited a higher proportion of neurons with increased firing rates compared to the 1 Hz protocol. The 1 Hz protocol induced a significant relative increase in firing rates that was predominantly driven by putative excitatory neurons, in which the relative increase was significantly greater than that of the 10 Hz group.

We thank the members of Yuanxi Biotech Inc., for technical assistance and animal care. This study was supported by grants from the Military Logistics Open Research Program (BWS19J012). Hong Wang, Xuejiao Hou and Ling Li contributed equally to this work.

Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, China Hong Wang, Xuejiao Hou, Ling Li, Min Cui, Simiao Yu, Yuchong Luo, Shenglin Wen & Ying Huang Correspondence to Shenglin Wen or Ying Huang. The study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Yuanxi Biotech Inc., Guangzhou, China (YXSW-2024-003), with all procedures performed in strict accordance with international guidelines for animal welfare and ethical research practices. The authors declare no competing interests.

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