Conclusions
The findings should be further substantiated in larger-scale studies. If validated, intrinsic differences by BDNF polymorphism status could index response to TMS prior to implementing plasticity-inducing protocols.
Methods
Forty-five healthy individuals (23 females; age: 25.3 ± 7.0 years) participated in the study, comprising two groups. Motor evoked potentials (MEP) were collected using single-pulse TMS paradigms at fixed stimulation intensities at 110% of the resting motor threshold in one group, and individually-derived intensities based on MEP sizes of 1 mV in the second group. Functional variant Val66Met (rs6265) was genotyped from saliva samples by a technician blinded to the identity of DNA samples.
Results
Twenty-seven participants (60.0%) were identified with Val/Val, sixteen (35.5%) with Val/Met genotype, and two with Met/Met genotype. MEP amplitudes were significantly diminished in the Val/Met than Val/Val individuals. These results held independent of the single-pulse TMS paradigm of choice (p = 0.017110% group; p = 0.035 1 mV group), age, and scalp-to-coil distances. Conclusions: The findings should be further substantiated in larger-scale studies. If validated, intrinsic differences by BDNF polymorphism status could index response to TMS prior to implementing plasticity-inducing protocols.