6533b836fe1ef96bd12a0af4

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Changes in intracortical circuits of the human motor cortex following theta burst stimulation of the lateral cerebellum

Pablo MirCristiano PecchioliEmanuele Lo GerfoMassimiliano OliveriMassimiliano OliveriCarlo CaltagironeGiacomo KochSilvia SalernoClaudia CodecàBarbara MarconiFrancesco MoriSara Torriero

subject

MaleCerebellumTime FactorsTranscranial magnetic stimulation; Cerebellum; Intracortical inhibition; Connectivity; Theta burst stimulation; TMSmedicine.medical_treatmentCTBSFunctional LateralityIntracortical inhibitionCONNECTIVITYNeck MusclesTheta burst stimulationCerebellumTheta RhythmEvoked PotentialsYoung Adult; Theta Rhythm; Analysis of Variance; Neck Muscles; Differential Threshold; Humans; Cerebellum; Electromyography; Hand; Neural Inhibition; Electric Stimulation; Motor Cortex; Evoked Potentials Motor; Adult; Psychomotor Performance; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Time Factors; Female; Functional Laterality; MaleMotor CortexTranscranial Magnetic StimulationSensory SystemsNeck Musclemedicine.anatomical_structureNeurologyMotorCerebellar cortexFemaleSettore MED/26 - NeurologiaPrimary motor cortexPsychologyHumanMotor cortexAdultTime FactorFRONTAL CORTEXDifferential ThresholdSensory systemNOYoung AdultPARIETAL CORTEXPhysiology (medical)medicineHumansAnalysis of VarianceSettore M-PSI/02 - Psicobiologia E Psicologia FisiologicaElectromyographyNeural InhibitionEvoked Potentials MotorHandElectric StimulationTranscranial magnetic stimulationElectrophysiologyCerebellum; Connectivity; Intracortical inhibition; Theta burst stimulation; TMS; Transcranial magnetic stimulation;TMSNeurology (clinical)NeurosciencePsychomotor Performance

description

Objective: The cerebellum takes part in several motor functions through its influence on the motor cortex (M1). Here, we applied the theta burst stimulation (TBS) protocol, a novel form of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) over the lateral cerebellum. The aim of this study was to test whether TBS of the lateral cerebellum could be able to modulate the excitability of the contralateral M1 in healthy subjects. Methods: Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) amplitude, short intracortical inhibition (SICI), long intracortical inhibition (LICI) and short intracortical facilitation (SICF) were tested in the M1 before and after cerebellar continuous TBS (cTBS) or intermittent TBS (iTBS). Results: We found that cTBS induced a reduction of SICI and an increase of LICI. On the other hand, cerebellar iTBS reduced LICI. MEPs amplitude also differently vary following cerebellar stimulation with cTBS or iTBS, resulting in a decrease by the former and an increase by the latter. Conclusions: Although the interpretation of these data remains highly speculative, these findings reveal that the cerebellar cortex undergoes bidirectional plastic changes that modulate different intracortical circuits within the contralateral primary motor cortex. Significance: Long-lasting modifications of these pathways could be useful to treat various pathological conditions characterized by an altered cortical excitability. © 2008 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2008-11-01
10.1016/j.clinph.2008.08.008http://hdl.handle.net/2108/32509