40 Hz-rTMS modulates spike-LFP coupling and improves cognitive function in 5xFAD mice.

OBJECTIVE

Spike-local field potential (LFP) coupling plays a pivotal role in mediating cross-scale neural communication. Although abnormal coupling has been reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD) models in vitro, in vivo evidence remains lacking. This study aimed to characterize in vivo spike-LFP coupling in 5XFAD mice and investigate whether 40 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can ameliorate related deficits.

METHODS

We performed chronic in vivo electrophysiological recordings of spikes and LFPs were performed in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) via. Phase-locking and coherence analysis were employed to quantify spike-LFP coupling. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Y-maze, novel object recognition, and Morris water maze tasks. The correlation between spike-LFP coupling and cognitive performance was analyzed by the Spearman method.

RESULTS

In wild-type (WT) sham mice, DG spikes exhibited tightly confined phase preferences (θ oscillation: 108°-126°; high γ (Hγ) oscillation: 198°-216°). In contrast, 5XFAD mice displayed severely dispersed spike-phase distributions and reduced coupling intensity, with mean vector length decreasing by 19.90% (spike-θ) and 23.8% (spike-Hγ) compared with that in WT-sham controls. Following 14 consecutive days of 40 Hz rTMS intervention, 5XFAD mice exhibited significant increases in mean vector length (θ: +39.44%; Hγ: +31.47%) and normalized spike-LFP phase distributions. Notably, rTMS treatment also markedly rescued learning, memory, and cognitive flexibility in 5XFAD mice. Spike-LFP coupling strength was significantly correlated with learning and memory performance.

CONCLUSION

These preliminary findings suggest that 40 Hz rTMS modulates pathological spike-LFP coupling in 5XFAD mice, laying the groundwork for therapeutic exploration.