Clinical Neurophysiology
Volume 121, Issue 4 , Pages 464-473, April 2010

The effects of motor cortex rTMS on corticospinal descending activity

  • V. Di Lazzaro

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +39 06 3015 4435; fax: +39 06 3550 1909.
    • ,
  • P. Profice

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • F. Pilato

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • M. Dileone

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • A. Oliviero

      Affiliations

    • FENNSI Group, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Finca la Peraleda, 45071 Toledo, Spain
    • ,
  • U. Ziemann

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Goethe-University, Schleusenweg 2-16, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Accepted 8 November 2009.

Abstract 

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the human motor cortex can produce long-lasting changes in the excitability of the motor cortex to single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). rTMS may increase or decrease motor cortical excitability depending critically on the characteristics of the stimulation protocol. However, it is still poorly defined which mechanisms and central motor circuits contribute to these rTMS induced long-lasting excitability changes. We have had the opportunity to perform a series of direct recordings of the corticospinal volley evoked by single pulse TMS from the epidural space of conscious patients with chronically implanted spinal electrodes before and after several protocols of rTMS that increase or decrease brain excitability. These recordings provided insight into the physiological basis of the effects of rTMS and the specific motor cortical circuits involved.

Keywords: Transcranial magnetic stimulation, rTMS, Motor cortex, Epidural activity

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PII: S1388-2457(09)00669-5

doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2009.11.007

Clinical Neurophysiology
Volume 121, Issue 4 , Pages 464-473, April 2010

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