Pathophysiology of unilateral asterixis due to thalamic lesion

• Published in: Clinical neurophysiology 2012-09, Vol.123 (9), p.1858-1864
• Main Authors: Inoue, Manabu, Kojima, Yasuhiro, Mima, Tatsuya, Sawamoto, Nobukatsu, Matsuhashi, Masao, Fumuro, Tomoyuki, Kinboshi, Masato, Koganemaru, Satoko, Kanda, Masutarou, Shibasaki, Hiroshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Asterixis-related cortical activity; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Injuries - complications; Brain Mapping; Cerebral Cortex - pathology; Cerebral Cortex - physiopathology; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Dyskinesias - diagnosis; Dyskinesias - etiology; Electric Stimulation; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Electroencephalography; Electromyography; Evoked Potentials, Motor - physiology; Functional Laterality - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Motor cortex excitability; Nervous system; Neural Pathways - pathology; Neurology; Reaction Time; Somesthesis and somesthetic pathways (proprioception, exteroception, nociception); interoception; electrolocation. Sensory receptors; Thalamic asterixis; Thalamic infarction; Thalamo-cortical connectivity; Thalamus - pathology; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 1388-2457; 1872-8952
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2012.01.021

Highlights ► Two cases with unilateral asterixis caused by an infarction in the lateral thalamus were studied by using electrophysiological and neuroimaging methods. ► Averaging of electroencephalogram (EEG) time locked to the asterixis revealed rhythmic oscillations of a beta band at the central area contralateral to the affected hand. ► The present study for the first time demonstrated that the asterixis due to a thalamic lesion is mediated by the sensorimotor cortex, which is subjected to excessive inhibition.