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Modulation of use‐dependent plasticity by d‐amphetamine
Author(s) -
Bütefisch Cathrin M.,
Davis Benjamin C.,
Sawaki Lumy,
Waldvogel Daniel,
Classen Joseph,
Kopylev Leonid,
Cohen Leonardo G.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.10056
Subject(s) - transcranial magnetic stimulation , neuroplasticity , placebo , amphetamine , neuroscience , psychology , motor cortex , stimulation , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , transcranial direct current stimulation , anesthesia , alternative medicine , pathology , dopamine
Abstract Use‐dependent plasticity, thought to contribute to functional recovery after brain injury, is elicited by motor training. The purpose of this study was to determine if administration of d‐amphetamine facilitates the effects of motor training on use‐dependent plasticity. Healthy human volunteers underwent a training period of voluntary thumb movements under the effects of placebo or d‐amphetamine in different sessions in a randomized double‐blind, counterbalanced design. Previous work in a drug‐naive condition showed that such training causes changes in the direction of thumb movements evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation and in transcranial magnetic stimulation‐evoked electromyographic responses. The endpoint measure of the study was the magnitude of training‐induced changes in transcranial magnetic stimulation‐evoked kinematic and electromyographic responses in the d‐amphetamine and in the placebo conditions. Motor training resulted in increased magnitude, faster development and longer lasting duration of use‐dependent plasticity under d‐amphetamine compared to the placebo session. These results document a facilitatory effect of d‐amphetamine on use‐dependent plasticity, a possible mechanism mediating the beneficial effect of this drug on functional recovery after cortical lesions.