This project explores the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on interneuron (IN) plasticity in cortical circuits of both mice and humans. rTMS, a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, is known to modulate cortical excitability, but its impact on synaptic transmission and neuronal connectivity and coding remains unclear. Our project aims to understand how rTMS influences specific GABAergic inhibitory synapses and IN networks. Employing methods like multi-neuron patch-clamp recordings, connectivity motif-analysis, neuroanatomical and transcriptome analyses, we will investigate changes in functional and structural connectivity.

Together with our IN-CODE partners, we will assess effects of rTMS on neuronal representation in behaving animals. Results from this project will provide a substantial understanding of rTMS-induced plasticity of specific IN networks in mice and humans, thereby establishing rTMS as a translational tool for interference and modification of IN function and neuronal representation in murine and human cortical networks.