Biology subjects

Gwynne, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Gwynne, L..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Development and Validation of the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reporting Assessment Tool(TMS-RAT)

HighlightsO_LIWe introduce the TMS-RAT, a reporting (assessment) tool for TMS studies C_LIO_LIDeveloped within a community-informed, iterative process rating 333 TMS studies C_LIO_LIEmpirically evaluated for usability, inter-rater, and test-retest reliability C_LIO_LIA validated subset enables reliable retrospective assessment of reporting C_LIO_LIThe modular structure enables use across a wide range of TMS study designs C_LI BackgroundA standardised tool for comprehensive reporting can improve transparency, support consistent documentation, and enable comparison across transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies. The most used reporting checklist lacks clear definitions of full reporting and was not initially evaluated for usability or inter-rater reliability. A scoping review of studies using this checklist shows that its items are reported only 50% of the time, suggesting that method descriptions are often incomplete. MethodsWe developed the TMS Reporting Assessment Tool (TMS-RAT), a comprehensive reporting framework that provides clear definitions and examples for its items, covering a wide range of TMS protocols. We tested the usability and reliability of the TMS-RAT by rating all studies published between 1991 and 2025 using afferent conditioning (n = 333), a protocol encompassing many reporting categories identified during tool development. Seventeen independent raters contributed across three development phases, a validation phase, and a retest phase, with naive raters introduced in each phase. Iterative refinements of the tool were informed by inter-rater reliability, qualitative rater feedback, and consultation with external TMS experts. ResultsWe present two versions of the tool: the 72-item TMS-RAT v1.0, designed to guide comprehensive reporting, and the TMS-RAT v1.1, a subset of 50 items with the highest inter-rater (overall AC1 = 0.78, range = [0.60-0.99]) and test-retest reliability (overall AC1 = 0.82, range = [0.65-1.0]), intended for retrospective evaluation of reporting in systematic reviews, meta-analyses. ConclusionThe TMS-RAT is a comprehensive, reliable tool that seeks to improve transparency and reproducibility in TMS research.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Temporal constraints of conscious tactile perception in the primary somatosensory cortex

The primary somatosensory cortex (S1) has long been implicated in tactile perception, yet its precise role in conscious tactile detection remains uncertain. The current study investigated the causal and time-specific involvement of S1 in tactile detection using single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (spTMS). In two experiments, spTMS was applied over contralateral S1, an active control site (inferior parietal lobe; IPL), or under a sham condition at short (25 & 75 ms; Experiment 1) and longer (130 ms; Experiment 2) intervals following electrotactile stimulation of the finger. Participants performed a go/no-go detection task at sensory threshold. In Experiment 1, tactile sensitivity was significantly reduced following early S1 stimulation compared to both active control and sham conditions. However, no such effect was observed in Experiment 2, indicating a temporally limited role of S1 in conscious detection. Moreover, self-reported TMS-related distraction ratings did not account for the observed sensitivity differences, suggesting sensitivity-specific modulation by early TMS rather than general task disruption. These findings support a causal role for early S1 activity in conscious tactile detection. We propose that disruption at this early stage interferes with the initial encoding of tactile input, thereby attenuating not only immediate perceptual awareness, but also subsequent functions such as discrimination and retention. Overall, the results underscore the constrained role of S1 in conscious stimulus detection and highlight the importance of neural networks beyond S1.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Pain and touch differentially modulate corticospinal excitability, independent of afferent inhibition

Pain can profoundly impact motor functioning to support self-preservation but is also associated with motor and somatosensory disturbances. Despite considerable research exploring the influence of pain and touch on motor and sensorimotor processes, the nature of this relationship remains elusive. Specifically, it is uncertain whether pain and touch modulate motor processes independently of each other or are interconnected. Across two experiments, an afferent inhibition (AI) paradigm was tested to probe the effects of tactile and nociceptive inputs on corticospinal processes and sensorimotor interactions. In Experiment 1 (N=20), the effect of electrocutaneous stimulation duration (0.2 vs. 0.4 ms) on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced corticospinal excitability (CSE) was assessed using a short and long-latency AI paradigm. A single electrocutanous stimulus was delivered to the left index finger before single pulse-TMS over the right-first dorsal interosseous (FDI) motor hotspot at one of five delays (15, 25, 35, 45, 60 or 160 ms). In Experiment 2 (N=20), the same paradigm was used to examine if this effect of sensorimotor interaction is changed when moderate tonic heat pain is delivered to the forearm. Significant AI was observed in both experiments at delays of 25, 35 and 160 ms, with afferent facilitation at 60 ms. This effect was not influenced by the duration of afferent stimulation (Experiment 1) nor by the presence of heat pain (Experiment 2). However, we found a significant reduction in CSE in painful compared to painless conditions, indicating that while tonic pain modulates CSE, tactile afferent inhibition remains unaffected. This supports the notion that pain has a direct (inhibitory) effect on motor output; however, in this context, tactile sensorimotor interactions remain unaltered.

neuroscience↗