Journal Article

FZJ-2026-04874

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png E-field modeling of transcranial magnetic stimulation differentiates parietal contributions for grasping after stroke

Hensel, L. (Corresponding author) ; Lange, F. ; Siebner, H. R. ; Thielscher, A. ; Fink, G. R.FZJ* ; Grefkes, C.

2026
Elsevier New York, NY [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.brs.2026.103191  doi:10.34734/FZJ-2026-04874

Abstract: AbstractBackground: After a motor stroke, brain networks mediating reaching and grasping undergo functional reorganization, particularly in the parietal cortex. Online repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can probe the behavioral relevance of stimulated cortical territories. However, anatomical interpretation is limited because the induced electric field is spatially distributed and may not correspond precisely to the nominal stimulation target.Objective: To investigate how individual rTMS-induced E-field distributions relate to interference effects of online rTMS over the anterior intraparietal sulcus (IPS) on grasping in stroke patients and healthy controls.Methods: Eighteen chronic stroke patients and eighteen matched controls performed a reach-grasp-lift task during online rTMS of the IPS. Individual E-fields were modeled and correlated with rTMS-induced changes in 3D kinematic measures. The overlap between E-field maxima and a meta-analytically defined grasping network, as well as cytoarchitectonic parietal regions, was quantified.Results: In both groups, spatial overlap between the induced E-field and the grasping-related network was linked to rTMS effects on movement smoothness. Changes in grip shaping and smoothness were associated with E-field overlap in the IPS in healthy controls. In patients, the analogous association was observed for the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) rather than the IPS, a pattern compatible with reorganization of parietal specialization after stroke.Conclusions: E-field-based analyses may improve the interpretation of rTMS effects on grasping in healthy and reorganized neural circuits. This can provide a framework for neuromodulation strategies that focus on individually defined functional targets rather than standard landmarks.Keywords: Electric field; Functional specialization; Grasping; Stroke; Transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Note: CG and GRF are funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – Project-ID 431549029 – SFB 1451. HRS is funded by the Innovation Funds Denmark (grand solution project, grant nr. 9068-00025B) and Lundbeckfonden (collaborative project grant, grant nr. R336-2020-1035). AT was supported by the Lundbeck Foundation (grant R313-2019-622), the German Research Foundation (project grants TH 1330/6-1 and TH 1330/7-1, part of Research Unit FOR 5429 “MeMoSLAP”) and the National Institutes of Health (grant 1RF1MH117428-01A1).

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Kognitive Neurowissenschaften (INM-3)

Research Program(s):

1. 5252 - Brain Dysfunction and Plasticity (POF4-525) (POF4-525)
2. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)431549029 - SFB 1451 Schlüsselmechanismen normaler und krankheitsbedingt gestörter motorischer Kontrolle (431549029) (431549029)

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