Frequency-dependent, bi-directional plasticity in motor cortex of human adults

Objective: To determine whether the plastic changes induced in human motor cortex by afferent stimulation depend on stimulus frequency. Methods: Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to examine changes in corticospinal excitability in 20 subjects before and after combined peripheral (motor poin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical neurophysiology 2003-07, Vol.114 (7), p.1265-1271
Main Authors: Pitcher, Julia B, Ridding, Michael C, Miles, Timothy S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Analysis of Variance
Biological and medical sciences
Cortical plasticity
Depression
Differential Threshold
Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
Electric Stimulation
Electromyography
Evoked Potentials, Motor - physiology
Facilitation
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human hand
Humans
Magnetics
Male
Middle Aged
Motor control and motor pathways. Reflexes. Control centers of vegetative functions. Vestibular system and equilibration
Motor Cortex - physiology
Motor Cortex - radiation effects
Motor point stimulation
Neuronal Plasticity - physiology
Time Factors
Transcranial magnetic brain stimulation
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
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Summary:Objective: To determine whether the plastic changes induced in human motor cortex by afferent stimulation depend on stimulus frequency. Methods: Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to examine changes in corticospinal excitability in 20 subjects before and after combined peripheral (motor point) and central stimulation. Peripheral stimuli were given as either low frequency (3 Hz) or high frequency (30 Hz) trains. Results: Low frequency stimulation induced prolonged depression of corticospinal excitability, while high frequency stimulation induced prolonged facilitation. These effects persisted for approximately 40–50 min after stimulation ceased. Conclusions: Corticospinal plasticity induced by dual peripheral and central stimulation is bi-directionally-modifiable in the adult human, with the direction of change being frequency-dependent. Significance: Therapies using peripheral stimulation to alter human motor cortex excitability could be tailored to exploit the differential effects of stimulus frequency on the direction of the excitability change.
ISSN:1388-2457
1872-8952
DOI:10.1016/S1388-2457(03)00092-0