Repeated iTBS Cycloserine Motor Plasticity

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a modality for probing and altering brain function in humans non-invasively. The technology relies on the principles of electromagnetic induction, whereby magnetic fields have an associated electrical field. By intersecting two magnetic fields safely generated outside the head, one can induce a focal electrical current where the magnetic fields intersect in the brain, and this can depolarize cell membranes and impact brain activity.

A well investigated phenomenon in neuroscience is the principle of long term potentiation (LTP), and its converse long term depression (LTD), referring to the ability of neurons to increase or decrease their connection strength in an activity dependent manner. They do this through modifications to their electrochemical junctions, the synapses. We have previously used the motor system as a model system to study the impact D-Cycloserine, an NMDA receptor partial agonist, on synaptic plasticity after TMS.

Conventional therapeutic TMS is delivered once daily, however it is increasingly being delivered multiple times per day in an effort to speed treatment effects. It is unclear how adjunctive agents would impact these repeated stimulation designs.

Research Question:

Does the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor partial agonist D-Cycloserine stabilize motor plasticity across multiple daily sessions of TMS?

Objectives:

1. To recruit 20 participants into a cross-over trial. These participants will complete two study phases (active and placebo), and will not know whether they are taking a low-dose d-cycloserine capsule (100mg) or a placebo capsule at each of these phases.
2. To measure motor evoked potentials (MEP) in the hand in relation to magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex responsible for this muscle. These will be measured at baseline, and after receiving rTMS over the motor cortex.
3. To deliver intermittent theta-burst rTMS stimulation (TBS) to the FDI region of the motor cortex.
4. To measure the magnitude (and associated change from baseline) of the MEPs after rTMS at a fixed stimulus intensity, and using a range of stimuli to generate a stimulus response curve.
5. To repeat iTBS one hour later and measure the impact on MEPs.
6. To measure changes in performance on computerized cognitive tasks following ingestion of the blinded capsule.

Methods:

D-Cycloserine will be purchased from Parsolex and repackaged into 100mg placebo-controlled capsules by Script Pharmacy in Calgary.

1. We will recruit 20 participants aged 18-65 through community advertisement, carefully screened for exclusion factors related to rTMS and DCS.
2. Participants will be randomly assigned by random number sequence with allocation concealment to one of two first arms of the crossover study: a) placebo-DCS 100mg and b) DCS 100mg-placebo.
3. Participants will complete the QIDS-SR (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Self Report), the BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory), and the STAI (State Trait Anxiety Inventory).
4. Participants will take their blinded capsule at least 1 hour prior to TBS. (we anticipate that it will take approximately 30 minutes to do steps 5-7)
5. Electromyographic (EMG) electrodes will be positioned over the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) bilaterally. These are non-invasive electrodes that use an adhesive to stick to the skin.
6. Using neuronavigation in conjunction with an atlas brain, the M1 hand strip will be localized using single pulse TMS (MagPro X100).
7. Motor evoked potentials are measurements of muscle activation, in this case in response to TMS stimulation of the brain. We will use single pulse TMS to record the magnitude of responses. As a baseline, we will collect twenty single-pulse (120% resting motor threshold (RMT), 0.25Hz) MEPs every 5 minutes for the 15 minutes preceding TBS rTMS. We will also characterize the stimulus response curve at baseline by delivering single pulse TMS at stimulus intensities ranging from 100-150% resting motor threshold presented in random order.
8. TBS rTMS will be applied to the FDI 'hotspot'. TBS consists of 2s trains every 10s. Trains are composed of 3 pulses at 50Hz, 200ms intervals, 80% RMT. Total time 190s and 600 pulses.
9. After TBS, twenty MEPs will be acquired (single pulse, 120% RMT, 0.25Hz) every 5 minutes for the first 15 minutes after iTBS. A stimulus response curve will be acquired at 30 minutes and 60 minutes post iTBS.
10. One hour following TBS, a second train of TBS rTMS will be applied to the FDI 'hotspot'. TBS consists of 2s trains every 10s. Trains are composed of 3 pulses at 50Hz, 200ms intervals, 80% RMT. Total time 190s and 600 pulses.
11. After TBS, twenty MEPs will be acquired (single pulse, 120% RMT, 0.25Hz) every 5 minutes for the first 15 minutes after iTBS. A stimulus response curve will be acquired at 30 minutes and 60 minutes post iTBS.
12. During one of the breaks in the stimulation procedure, a brief, computerized neurocognitive assessment will take place after ingestion of the blinded capsule.
13. Participants will be asked if they believe they received the study medication or placebo in this first phase of the crossover trial.

This is study involves a crossover design, therefore after a minimum of 7 days the experiment will be repeated with the second blinded capsule.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy (absence of chronic medical conditions) individuals
2. Aged 18-65. The lower limit is justified by the absence of safety studies involving DCS in pediatric studies, and the upper limit is justified by the increasing prevalence of chronic illness.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Allergy to cycloserine
2. Are currently pregnant, breast feeding or plan to become pregnant
3. Have an alcohol or substance use disorder within the last 3 months
4. Current psychiatric concerns
5. are at a significant risk of harm to themselves or others
6. Have any significant neurological disorder or insult including, but not limited to: any condition likely to be associated with increased intracranial pressure, space occupying brain lesion, any history of epilepsy, cerebral aneurysm, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, multiple sclerosis, significant head trauma with loss of consciousness for greater than or equal to 5 minutes
7. Have concomitant major unstable medical illness, cardiac pacemaker or implanted medication pump
8. Have an intracranial implant (e.g., aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes) or any other metal object within or near the head, excluding the mouth, that cannot be safely removed
9. Conditions that may impair the ability to metabolize cycloserine including, but not limited to current Renal or Liver Disease.
10. Inability to refrain from alcohol use for 24 hours prior to each session and following each session.
11. Use of isoniazid or ethionamide
12. Are currently (or in the last 4 weeks) using any benzodiazepine, cyclopyrrolone, gabapentin/pregabalin or anticonvulsant due to the potential to limit rTMS efficacy