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Subthreshold prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces motor cortex excitability
Author(s) -
Rollnik Jens D.,
Schubert Margot,
Dengler Reinhard
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4598(200001)23:1<112::aid-mus15>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - transcranial magnetic stimulation , prefrontal cortex , neuroscience , motor cortex , stimulation , psychology , primary motor cortex , medicine , cognition
The prefrontal cortex plays an important role in central motor control. We have examined whether prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) induces changes of motor cortex excitability determined by motor evoked potentials (MEPs) following single‐pulse TMS. We studied 18 healthy volunteers stimulated at 5 Hz with 10% subthreshold prefrontal vs. occipital rTMS for 12 s. MEPs from the flexor carpi radialis muscle after single‐pulse vertex stimulation were recorded during rTMS at 0, 4, 8, and 12 s. MEP areas decreased significantly after 8 s of prefrontal rTMS ( P < 0.05) but not after occipital rTMS. We conclude that rTMS of the prefrontal cortex may inhibit the primary motor areas. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 23: 112–114, 2000