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Muscle vibration and prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
Author(s) -
Rollnik Jens D.,
Siggelkow Sabine,
Schubert Margot,
Schneider Udo,
Dengler Reinhard
Publication year - 2001
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 - 10.1002/1097-4598(200101)24:1<112::aid-mus15>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - transcranial magnetic stimulation , neuroscience , medicine , stimulation , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychology
We previously demonstrated that prefrontal subthreshold repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may reduce motor cortex excitability. We have now examined whether muscle vibration (MV) can compensate for this depression. We enrolled 25 healthy volunteers (aged 22 to 37 years) who received 5 H Z , 10% subthreshold prefrontal rTMS for 12 s. The extensor carpi radialis muscle was vibrated with an electromagnetic mechanical stimulator with a stimulation frequency of 120 H Z and 0.5 mm amplitude. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from the flexor carpi radialis muscle (FCR) following single‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were recorded at baseline, and after 4, 8, and 12 s. During prefrontal rTMS, MEPs of the FCR exhibited a serial depression ( P = 0.001). This effect did not occur during MV. We conclude that rTMS of the prefrontal cortex may inhibit the corticospinal system. This depression may be compensated by MV, suggesting that vibration changes motor cortex excitability. The underlying mechanism might be an input from Ia sensory afferents to the motor and prefrontal cortex. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 112–115, 2001