Hierarchical neurobiological changes in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex connectivity induced by theta-burst stimulation

The preprint operates within the dominant paradigm of neuroscience, employing established methodologies like EEG, TMS, and computational modeling (DCM) to investigate brain function and connectivity. Specifically, it adheres to the paradigm that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), and particularly theta-burst stimulation (TBS), can induce lasting changes in brain activity and connectivity, with potential therapeutic implications for conditions like depression. The study investigates the specific effects of TBS on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC), a circuit implicated in depression.

This preprint exemplifies normal science. It investigates a specific question (how TBS modulates DLPFC-sgACC connectivity) within the established framework of rTMS research and computational neuroscience. It uses standard experimental designs and data analysis techniques (e.g., spectral DCM, PEB). The study aims to refine existing knowledge about TBS mechanisms rather than propose a radical departure from current understanding. Although the authors highlight some unexpected findings (e.g., transient DLPFC effects, sustained sgACC changes, inter-individual variability), these are presented as nuances within the existing paradigm, prompting further investigation rather than challenging its fundamental tenets. The study does not introduce new methodologies, theoretical frameworks, or dramatically reinterpret existing data, aligning with the characteristics of "puzzle-solving" within normal science as described by Kuhn.