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Comparison between surface electrodes and ultrasound monitoring to measure TMS evoked muscle contraction
Author(s) -
Kaczmarczyk Isabella,
Rawji Vishal,
Rothwell John C.,
HodsonTole Emma,
Sharma Nikhil
Publication year - 2021
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/mus.27192
Subject(s) - transcranial magnetic stimulation , electromyography , biceps , silent period , evoked potential , muscle contraction , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anatomy , neuroscience , stimulation , psychology
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is widely used to explore cortical physiology in health and disease. Surface electromyography (sEMG) is appropriate for superficial muscles, but cannot be applied easily to less accessible muscles. Muscle ultrasound (mUS) may provide an elegant solution to this problem, but fundamental questions remain. We explore the relationship between TMS evoked muscle potentials and TMS evoked muscle contractions measured with mUS. Methods In 10 participants, we performed a TMS recruitment curve, simultaneously measuring motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and mUS in biceps (BI), first dorsal interosseous (FDI), tibialis anterior (TA), and the tongue (TO). Results Resting motor threshold (RMT) measurements and recruitment curves were found to be consistent across sEMG and mUS. Discussion This work supports the use of TMS‐US to study less accessible muscles. The implications are broad but could include the study of a new range of muscles in disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.