Search results for "EXCITABILITY"

Motor intracortical inhibition in PD: L-DOPA modulation of high-frequency rTMS effects

2007

Dopaminergic drugs and deep brain stimulation restore cortical inhibition in Parkinson disease (PD) patients. High-frequency rTMS was also found to increase cortical inhibition in PD but its therapeutic effect is still controversial. Here we hypothesize that, if dopaminergic drugs reverse to normal cortical excitability in M1, the effect of high-frequency (hf)-rTMS in PD patients could depend on whether they are in a medicated or unmedicated state. The present study aims to explore the lasting effects of sub-threshold hf rTMS trains over M1 on cortical inhibition in patients with "on" and without "off" L-DOPA treatment. Fourteen PD patients were examined twice while "on" and "off" medicatio…

Central Contribution to Electrically Induced Fatigue depends on Stimulation Frequency

2017

International audience; PURPOSE: This study analyzed the impact of several protocols of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), matched with a similar total torque-time integral, on muscle activation pathways and neuromuscular fatigue.METHODS: Ten young healthy participants (age: 24.6 +/- 4.2) performed 3 randomized NMES sessions on the triceps surae muscles with 20 Hz, 60 Hz or 100 Hz stimulation frequencies (pulse duration: 1 ms), with pulse amplitude (IES) set at 20 % of isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Muscle activity during NMES was assessed by means of the twitch, the soleus H-reflex and M wave responses evoked by single muscle stimulation at IES. Neuromuscular fati…

Transcranial direct current stimulation improves isometric time to exhaustion of the knee extensors

2016

International audience; Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can increase cortical excitability of a targeted brain area, which may affect endurance exercise performance. However, optimal electrode placement for tDCS remains unclear. We tested the effect of two different tDCS electrode montages for improving exercise performance. Nine subjects underwent a control (CON), placebo (SHAM) and two different tDCS montage sessions in a randomized design. In one tDCS session, the anodal electrode was placed over the left motor cortex and the cathodal on contralateral forehead (HEAD), while for the other montage the anodal electrode was placed over the left motor cortex and cathodal electr…

Linking Microstructural Integrity and Motor Cortex Excitability in Multiple Sclerosis

2021

Motor skills are frequently impaired in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients following grey and white matter damage with cortical excitability abnormalities. We applied advanced diffusion imaging with 3T magnetic resonance tomography for neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), as well as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in 50 MS patients and 49 age-matched healthy controls to quantify microstructural integrity of the motor system. To assess excitability, we determined resting motor thresholds using non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation. As measures of cognitive-motor performance, we conducted neuropsychological assessments including the Nine-Hole Peg Test, Trail Makin…

Acute effects of static and dynamic stretching on the neuromuscular system

2019

Stretching is traditionally incorporated into pre-exercise routines in health, rehabilitation and sporting environments to condition the neuromuscular system for exercise. While a large body of evidence reported that stretching may acutely impair the subsequent muscular performance, some conflicting results highlight possible mitigating factors of neuromuscular responses variability. Because the limited data available do not present a clear consensus, the aim of this thesis was to investigate the effects of different factors on neuromuscular responses to stretch: the muscle group, the stretch duration and modality. By means of four studies, it has been shown that static stretching may alter…

Microtubule Dynamics and Neuronal Excitability: Advances on Cytoskeletal Components Implicated in Epileptic Phenomena

2020

AbstractExtensive researches have deepened knowledge on the role of synaptic components in epileptogenesis, but limited attention has been devoted to the potential implication of the cytoskeleton. The study of the development of epilepsy and hyperexcitability states involves molecular, synaptic, and structural alterations of neuronal bioelectric activity. In this paper we aim to explore the neurobiological targets involved in microtubule functioning and cytoskeletal transport, i.e. how dynamic scaffolding of microtubules can influence neuronal morphology and excitability, in order to suggest a potential role for microtubule dynamics in the processes turning a normal neuronal network in a hy…

Guanosine modulates K+ membrane currents in SH-SY5Y cells: involvement of adenosine receptors

2022

AbstractGuanosine (GUO), widely considered a key signaling mediator, is implicated in the regulation of several cellular processes. While its interaction with neural membranes has been described, GUO still is an orphan neuromodulator. It has been postulated that GUO may eventually interact with potassium channels and adenosine (ADO) receptors (ARs), both particularly important for the control of cellular excitability. Accordingly, here, we investigated the effects of GUO on the bioelectric activity of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. We first explored the contribution of voltage-dependent K+ channels and, besides this, the role of ARs in the regulation…

Migraine as a Cortical Brain Disorder

2020

Purpose Migraine is an exclusively human chronic disorder with ictal manifestations characterized by a multifaceted clinical complexity pointing to a cerebral cortical involvement. The present review is aimed to cover the clinical, neuroimaging, and neurophysiological literature on the role of the cerebral cortex in migraine pathophysiology. Overview Converging clinical scenarios, advanced neuroimaging data, and experimental neurophysiological findings, indicate that fluctuating excitability, plasticity, and metabolism of cortical neurons represent the pathophysiological substrate of the migraine cycle. Abnormal cortical responsivity and sensory processing coupled to a mismatch between the …

Orally administered indicaxanthin is able to modulate human motor cortical excitability and plasticity

Opuntia Ficus Indica contains Indicaxanthin (IX), an antinflammatory and antioxidant betalaine pigment. This phytochemical is also able to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) in rats and modulate neuronal activity. Considering these evidence, we aimed at investigating if orally administered IX could affect human brain tissue. 8 healthy and right-handed male subjects were recruited (20-45 years) with no history or clinical signs of neurological diseases, brain trauma or use of drugs acting on neuronal process, as assessed by a clinical neurologist. Non invasive Brain Stimulation and Neuromodulation (NIBS and NIN) instructions were applied in basal condition (T0) and 2 hours after having assu…

Effets aigus et chroniques de l’électrostimulation appliquée au niveau du nerf moteur : importance du retour afférent

2019

The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation protocols favouring an indirect motor units’ (MU) recruitment via sensory axons activation and giving rise to extra force development, on the neuromuscular system. These protocols use wide pulse duration, low stimulation intensity, low and high stimulation frequencies and are applied over the motor nerve. The aim of the first study was to examine the effects of these protocols on the extent and origin of neuromuscular fatigue during an acute application. Results showed that for a similar impact on maximal force generating capacity, low stimulation frequencies limit force decreases during the stimulation trains a…