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Mirror Movements After Stroke Suggest Facilitation From Nonprimary Motor Cortex: A Case Presentation
Author(s) -
Caronni Antonio,
Sciumé Luciana,
Ferpozzi Valentina,
Blasi Valeria,
Castellano Antonella,
Falini Andrea,
Perucca Laura,
Cerri Gabriella
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pmandr
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1934-1563
pISSN - 1934-1482
DOI - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.10.009
Subject(s) - motor cortex , facilitation , physical medicine and rehabilitation , stroke (engine) , medicine , pyramidal tracts , motor area , neuroscience , corticospinal tract , psychology , primary motor cortex , motor imagery , electroencephalography , magnetic resonance imaging , stimulation , mechanical engineering , brain–computer interface , diffusion mri , engineering , radiology
When stroke occurs in adulthood, mirror movements (MMs; involuntary movements occurring in 1 hand when performing unilateral movements with the contralateral hand) in the paretic hand rarely occur. We present a case of an apparently healthy 54‐year‐old man presenting with MMs in his left (nondominant) hand. Further evaluation revealed diminished strength and dexterity in left hand, increased spinal excitability, decreased corticospinal excitability, occurrence of ipsilateral motor responses, enlarged cortical motor representation, and imaging findings consistent with a previously undiagnosed right‐subcortical stroke. MMs and ipsilateral motor responses may reflect the increased spinal motor neurons' excitability sustained by the spared nonprimary ipsilesional motor areas.