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Bhattacharya A, Stezin A, Kamble N, Bhardwaj S, Yadav R, Pal PK. Abnormal cortical excitability in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 12. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2024; 120:106002. [PMID: 38219530 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2024.106002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 (SCA-12) is an uncommon autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia characterized by action tremors in the upper limbs, dysarthria, head tremor, and gait ataxia. We aimed to evaluate the motor cortical excitability in patients with SCA-12 using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). METHODS The study was done in the department of Neurology at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore. Nine patients with SCA-12 (2 females) and 10 healthy controls (2 females) were included in the study. TMS was performed in all the subjects and various parameters such as resting motor threshold (RMT), central motor conduction time (CMCT) and contralateral silent period (cSP) were recorded. The left motor cortex was stimulated and the recording was done from right first dorsal interossei muscle. The severity of ataxia was assessed using the scale for assessment and rating in ataxia (SARA). RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 58.11 ± 7.56 years mean age at onset: 51.67 ± 4.18 years. The mean duration of illness was 9.44 ± 4.88 years. The mean SARA score was 13.83 ± 3.60. Patients with SCA-12 had significantly increased RMT (88.80 ± 12.78 %) compared to HC (44.90 ± 9.40 %, p < 0.05). A significantly prolonged CMCT was observed in patients (13.70 ± 2.52 msec) compared to HC (7.31 ± 1.21 msec, p < 0.05). In addition, cSP was significantly increased in SCA-12 patients (144.43 ± 25.79 msec) compared to HC (82.14 ± 28.90 msec, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Patients with SCA-12 demonstrate a reduced cortical excitability and increased cortical inhibition suggesting an increase in the GABAergic neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amitabh Bhattacharya
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, Karnataka, India
| | - Albert Stezin
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, Karnataka, India
| | - Nitish Kamble
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, Karnataka, India
| | - Sujas Bhardwaj
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, Karnataka, India
| | - Ravi Yadav
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, Karnataka, India
| | - Pramod Kumar Pal
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, Karnataka, India.
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Vucic S, Stanley Chen KH, Kiernan MC, Hallett M, Benninger DH, Di Lazzaro V, Rossini PM, Benussi A, Berardelli A, Currà A, Krieg SM, Lefaucheur JP, Long Lo Y, Macdonell RA, Massimini M, Rosanova M, Picht T, Stinear CM, Paulus W, Ugawa Y, Ziemann U, Chen R. Clinical diagnostic utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation in neurological disorders. Updated report of an IFCN committee. Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 150:131-175. [PMID: 37068329 PMCID: PMC10192339 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
The review provides a comprehensive update (previous report: Chen R, Cros D, Curra A, Di Lazzaro V, Lefaucheur JP, Magistris MR, et al. The clinical diagnostic utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation: report of an IFCN committee. Clin Neurophysiol 2008;119(3):504-32) on clinical diagnostic utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in neurological diseases. Most TMS measures rely on stimulation of motor cortex and recording of motor evoked potentials. Paired-pulse TMS techniques, incorporating conventional amplitude-based and threshold tracking, have established clinical utility in neurodegenerative, movement, episodic (epilepsy, migraines), chronic pain and functional diseases. Cortical hyperexcitability has emerged as a diagnostic aid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Single-pulse TMS measures are of utility in stroke, and myelopathy even in the absence of radiological changes. Short-latency afferent inhibition, related to central cholinergic transmission, is reduced in Alzheimer's disease. The triple stimulation technique (TST) may enhance diagnostic utility of conventional TMS measures to detect upper motor neuron involvement. The recording of motor evoked potentials can be used to perform functional mapping of the motor cortex or in preoperative assessment of eloquent brain regions before surgical resection of brain tumors. TMS exhibits utility in assessing lumbosacral/cervical nerve root function, especially in demyelinating neuropathies, and may be of utility in localizing the site of facial nerve palsies. TMS measures also have high sensitivity in detecting subclinical corticospinal lesions in multiple sclerosis. Abnormalities in central motor conduction time or TST correlate with motor impairment and disability in MS. Cerebellar stimulation may detect lesions in the cerebellum or cerebello-dentato-thalamo-motor cortical pathways. Combining TMS with electroencephalography, provides a novel method to measure parameters altered in neurological disorders, including cortical excitability, effective connectivity, and response complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Vucic
- Brain, Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Kai-Hsiang Stanley Chen
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney; and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Mark Hallett
- Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - David H Benninger
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Switzerland
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo M Rossini
- Department of Neurosci & Neurorehab IRCCS San Raffaele-Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alfredo Berardelli
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Currà
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Alfredo Fiorini Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Terracina, LT, Italy
| | - Sandro M Krieg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Technical University Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Jean-Pascal Lefaucheur
- Univ Paris Est Creteil, EA4391, ENT, Créteil, France; Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Henri Mondor Hospital, AP-HP, Créteil, France
| | - Yew Long Lo
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, and Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | | | - Marcello Massimini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Rosanova
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Thomas Picht
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Cluster of Excellence: "Matters of Activity. Image Space Material," Humboldt University, Berlin Simulation and Training Center (BeST), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Cathy M Stinear
- Department of Medicine Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand
| | - Walter Paulus
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Yoshikazu Ugawa
- Department of Human Neurophysiology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Japan
| | - Ulf Ziemann
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany; Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Robert Chen
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital-UHN, Division of Neurology-University of Toronto, Toronto Canada
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Lopes TDS, Ballas SK, Santana JERS, de Melo-Carneiro P, de Oliveira LB, Sá KN, Lopes LCD, Silva WDS, Lucena R, Baptista AF. Sickle cell disease chronic joint pain: Clinical assessment based on maladaptive central nervous system plasticity. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:679053. [PMID: 36203767 PMCID: PMC9530388 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.679053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic joint pain (CJP) is among the significant musculoskeletal comorbidities in sickle cell disease (SCD) individuals. However, many healthcare professionals have difficulties in understanding and evaluating it. In addition, most musculoskeletal evaluation procedures do not consider central nervous system (CNS) plasticity associated with CJP, which is frequently maladaptive. This review study highlights the potential mechanisms of CNS maladaptive plasticity related to CJP in SCD and proposes reliable instruments and methods for musculoskeletal assessment adapted to those patients. A review was carried out in the PubMed and SciELO databases, searching for information that could help in the understanding of the mechanisms of CNS maladaptive plasticity related to pain in SCD and that presented assessment instruments/methods that could be used in the clinical setting by healthcare professionals who manage chronic pain in SCD individuals. Some maladaptive CNS plasticity mechanisms seem important in CJP, including the impairment of pain endogenous control systems, central sensitization, motor cortex reorganization, motor control modification, and arthrogenic muscle inhibition. Understanding the link between maladaptive CNS plasticity and CJP mechanisms and its assessment through accurate instruments and methods may help healthcare professionals to increase the quality of treatment offered to SCD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago da Silva Lopes
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- Adventist Neuromodulation and Neuroscience Laboratory, Bahia Adventist College, Cachoeira, Brazil
- NAPEN Network (Nucleus of Assistance, Research, and Teaching in Neuromodulation), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Samir K. Ballas
- Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jamille Evelyn Rodrigues Souza Santana
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- NAPEN Network (Nucleus of Assistance, Research, and Teaching in Neuromodulation), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Center for Mathematics, Computation, and Cognition, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Pedro de Melo-Carneiro
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Lilian Becerra de Oliveira
- Adventist Neuromodulation and Neuroscience Laboratory, Bahia Adventist College, Cachoeira, Brazil
- Graduate program of Medicine and Human Health, Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Katia Nunes Sá
- NAPEN Network (Nucleus of Assistance, Research, and Teaching in Neuromodulation), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Graduate program of Medicine and Human Health, Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | | | | | - Rita Lucena
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Abrahão Fontes Baptista
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- NAPEN Network (Nucleus of Assistance, Research, and Teaching in Neuromodulation), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Center for Mathematics, Computation, and Cognition, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
- Graduate program of Medicine and Human Health, Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Salvador, BA, Brazil
- Laboratory of Medical Investigations 54 (LIM-54), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Abrahão Fontes Baptista
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John L, Küper M, Hulst T, Timmann D, Hermsdörfer J. Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on grip force control in patients with cerebellar degeneration. CEREBELLUM & ATAXIAS 2017; 4:15. [PMID: 28932407 PMCID: PMC5603042 DOI: 10.1186/s40673-017-0072-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The control of grip forces when moving a hand held object is impaired in patients with cerebellar degeneration. We asked the question whether after-effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the lateral cerebellum or M1 improved grip force control in cerebellar patients. METHODS Grip force control while holding an object during cyclic arm movements was assessed in patients with pure cerebellar degeneration (n = 14, mean age 50.2 years ± SD 8.8 years) and age- and sex-matched control participants (n = 14, mean age 50.7 years ± SD 9.8 years). All subjects were tested before and after application of tDCS (2 mA, 22 min) in a within-subject design. Each subject received anodal tDCS applied to the cerebellum, anodal tDCS applied to M1 or sham-stimulation with a break of 1 week between the three experimental sessions. RESULTS There were no clear after-effects of tDCS on grip force control neither in control participants nor in cerebellar patients. Cerebellar patients showed typical impairments with higher grip forces, a higher variability of movements. CONCLUSION In the present study, deficits in grip force control were neither improved by tDCS applied over the cerebellum nor M1 in cerebellar degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liane John
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Küper
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Thomas Hulst
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Erasmus University College, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Joachim Hermsdörfer
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Institute of Movement Science, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Farrar MA, Vucic S, Nicholson G, Kiernan MC. Motor cortical dysfunction develops in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Clin Neurophysiol 2016; 127:3418-3424. [PMID: 27689815 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2016.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cerebellar ataxia and variable expression of clinical features beyond the cerebellum. To gain further insights into disease pathophysiology, the present study explored motor cortex function in SCA3 to determine whether cortical dysfunction was present and if this contributed to the development of clinical manifestations. METHODS Clinical phenotyping and longitudinal assessments were combined with central (threshold-tracking transcranial magnetic stimulation) and peripheral (nerve excitability) techniques in 11 genetically characterized SCA3 patients. RESULTS Short-interval intracortical inhibition was significantly reduced in presymptomatic and symptomatic SCA3 patients (-1.3±1.4%) compared to healthy controls (10.3±0.7%, P<0.0005), with changes evident prior to clinical onset of ataxia and related to worsening severity (R=-0.78, P<0.005). Central motor conduction time was also significantly prolonged in presymptomatic and symptomatic SCA3 patients (7.5±0.4ms) compared to healthy controls (5.3±0.2ms, P<0.0005) and related to clinical severity (R=0.81, P<0.005). Markers of peripheral motor neurodegeneration and excitability did not correlate with cortical hyperexcitability or ataxia. CONCLUSIONS Simultaneous investigation of clinical status, and central and peripheral nerve function has identified progressive cortical dysfunction in SCA3 patients related to the development of ataxia. SIGNIFICANCE These findings suggest alteration in cortical activity is associated with SCA3 pathogenesis and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A Farrar
- Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Steve Vucic
- Department of Neurology, Westmead Hospital and Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Garth Nicholson
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Sydney Medical School, Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Burns E, Chipchase L, Schabrun S. Altered function of intracortical networks in chronic lateral epicondylalgia. Eur J Pain 2016; 20:1166-75. [DOI: 10.1002/ejp.841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Burns
- Brain Rehabilitation and Neuroplasticity Unit; School of Science and Health; The University of Western Sydney; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - L.S. Chipchase
- Brain Rehabilitation and Neuroplasticity Unit; School of Science and Health; The University of Western Sydney; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - S.M. Schabrun
- Brain Rehabilitation and Neuroplasticity Unit; School of Science and Health; The University of Western Sydney; Sydney NSW Australia
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Markovic V, Dragasevic-Miskovic NT, Stankovic I, Petrovic I, Svetel M, Kostić VS. Dystonia in Patients With Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2015; 3:292-295. [PMID: 30713920 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.12274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2015] [Revised: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Dystonia has been described in various genetically proven spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), most often in SCA3, SCA17, and SCA2 patients. In this report, we describe different types of dystonia observed in 5 of our 11 SCA2 patients. All our patients had cranial and/or cervical dystonia with focal or segmental distribution. Except for 1 case with isolated cervical dystonia, all other patients had lower cranial affection of variable severity. Although it is difficult to describe ataxia-dystonia syndrome that would be highly characteristic for SCA2, we suggest that occurrence of dystonia in a patient with slowly evolving cerebellar disease should, besides SCA3 and SCA17, also suggest SCA2 testing. In patients with lower cranial dystonia, especially jaw and tongue dystonia, SCA2 should be considered during the diagnostic workup.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natasa T Dragasevic-Miskovic
- Neurology Clinic Clinical Center of Serbia Belgrade Serbia.,School of Medicine University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| | - Iva Stankovic
- Neurology Clinic Clinical Center of Serbia Belgrade Serbia
| | - Igor Petrovic
- Neurology Clinic Clinical Center of Serbia Belgrade Serbia.,School of Medicine University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| | - Marina Svetel
- Neurology Clinic Clinical Center of Serbia Belgrade Serbia.,School of Medicine University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| | - Vladimir S Kostić
- Neurology Clinic Clinical Center of Serbia Belgrade Serbia.,School of Medicine University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
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SCHABRUN SIOBHANM, HODGES PAULW, VICENZINO BILL, JONES EMMA, CHIPCHASE LUCINDAS. Novel Adaptations in Motor Cortical Maps. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2015; 47:681-90. [DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000000469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Chen CC, Chuang YF, Yang HC, Hsu MJ, Huang YZ, Chang YJ. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the median nerve facilitates low motor cortex excitability in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2014; 25:143-50. [PMID: 25434572 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Revised: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuromodulation of motor excitability has been shown to improve functional movement in people with central nervous system damage. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of peripheral neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in motor excitability and its effects in people with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). This single-blind case-control study was conducted on young control (n=9), age-matched control (n=9), and SCA participants (n=9; 7 SCAIII and 2 sporadic). All participants received an accumulated 30 min of NMES (25 Hz, 800 ms on/800 ms off) of the median nerve. The central motor excitability, measured by motor evoked potential (MEP) and silent period, and the peripheral motor excitability, measured by the H-reflex and M-wave, were recorded in flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle before, during, and after the NMES was applied. The results showed that NMES significantly enhanced the MEP in all 3 groups. The silent period, H-reflex and maximum M-wave were not changed by NMES. We conclude that NMES enhances low motor excitability in patients with SCA and that the mechanism of the neuromodulation was supra-segmental. These findings are potentially relevant to the utilization of NMES for preparation of motor excitability. The protocol was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02103075).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Chung Chen
- Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine and Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, 259, Wen-Hwa 1st Rd, Kweishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Fen Chuang
- Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine and Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, 259, Wen-Hwa 1st Rd, Kweishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Chu Yang
- Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine and Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, 259, Wen-Hwa 1st Rd, Kweishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Miao-Ju Hsu
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, 100, Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Zu Huang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital 5, Fusing St., Kweishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259, Wen-Hwa 1st Rd, Kweishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ju Chang
- Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine and Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, 259, Wen-Hwa 1st Rd, Kweishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
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Grimaldi G, Argyropoulos GP, Boehringer A, Celnik P, Edwards MJ, Ferrucci R, Galea JM, Groiss SJ, Hiraoka K, Kassavetis P, Lesage E, Manto M, Miall RC, Priori A, Sadnicka A, Ugawa Y, Ziemann U. Non-invasive cerebellar stimulation--a consensus paper. THE CEREBELLUM 2014; 13:121-38. [PMID: 23943521 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-013-0514-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The field of neurostimulation of the cerebellum either with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS; single pulse or repetitive (rTMS)) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS; anodal or cathodal) is gaining popularity in the scientific community, in particular because these stimulation techniques are non-invasive and provide novel information on cerebellar functions. There is a consensus amongst the panel of experts that both TMS and tDCS can effectively influence cerebellar functions, not only in the motor domain, with effects on visually guided tracking tasks, motor surround inhibition, motor adaptation and learning, but also for the cognitive and affective operations handled by the cerebro-cerebellar circuits. Verbal working memory, semantic associations and predictive language processing are amongst these operations. Both TMS and tDCS modulate the connectivity between the cerebellum and the primary motor cortex, tuning cerebellar excitability. Cerebellar TMS is an effective and valuable method to evaluate the cerebello-thalamo-cortical loop functions and for the study of the pathophysiology of ataxia. In most circumstances, DCS induces a polarity-dependent site-specific modulation of cerebellar activity. Paired associative stimulation of the cerebello-dentato-thalamo-M1 pathway can induce bidirectional long-term spike-timing-dependent plasticity-like changes of corticospinal excitability. However, the panel of experts considers that several important issues still remain unresolved and require further research. In particular, the role of TMS in promoting cerebellar plasticity is not established. Moreover, the exact positioning of electrode stimulation and the duration of the after effects of tDCS remain unclear. Future studies are required to better define how DCS over particular regions of the cerebellum affects individual cerebellar symptoms, given the topographical organization of cerebellar symptoms. The long-term neural consequences of non-invasive cerebellar modulation are also unclear. Although there is an agreement that the clinical applications in cerebellar disorders are likely numerous, it is emphasized that rigorous large-scale clinical trials are missing. Further studies should be encouraged to better clarify the role of using non-invasive neurostimulation techniques over the cerebellum in motor, cognitive and psychiatric rehabilitation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Grimaldi
- Unité d'Etude du Mouvement, Hôpital Erasme-ULB, 808 Route de Lennik, 1070, Brussels, Belgium,
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12
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Ganos C, Zittel S, Minnerop M, Schunke O, Heinbokel C, Gerloff C, Zühlke C, Bauer P, Klockgether T, Münchau A, Bäumer T. Clinical and Neurophysiological Profile of Four German Families with Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 14. THE CEREBELLUM 2013; 13:89-96. [DOI: 10.1007/s12311-013-0522-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Filip P, Lungu OV, Bareš M. Dystonia and the cerebellum: a new field of interest in movement disorders? Clin Neurophysiol 2013; 124:1269-76. [PMID: 23422326 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2013.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2012] [Revised: 01/06/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Although dystonia has traditionally been regarded as a basal ganglia dysfunction, recent provocative evidence has emerged of cerebellar involvement in the pathophysiology of this enigmatic disease. This review synthesizes the data suggesting that the cerebellum plays an important role in dystonia etiology, from neuroanatomical research of complex networks showing that the cerebellum is connected to a wide range of other central nervous system structures involved in movement control to animal models indicating that signs of dystonia are due to cerebellum dysfunction and completely disappear after cerebellectomy, and finally to clinical observations in secondary dystonia patients with various types of cerebellar lesions. We propose that dystonia is a large-scale dysfunction, involving not only cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical pathways, but the cortico-ponto-cerebello-thalamo-cortical loop as well. Even in the absence of traditional "cerebellar signs" in most dystonia patients, there are more subtle indications of cerebellar dysfunction. It is clear that as long as the cerebellum's role in dystonia genesis remains unexamined, it will be difficult to significantly improve the current standards of dystonia treatment or to provide curative treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Filip
- Central European Institute of Technology, CEITEC MU, Behavioral and Social Neuroscience Research Group, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Sadnicka A, Hoffland BS, Bhatia KP, van de Warrenburg BP, Edwards MJ. The cerebellum in dystonia - help or hindrance? Clin Neurophysiol 2011; 123:65-70. [PMID: 22078259 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2011.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2011] [Revised: 03/21/2011] [Accepted: 04/05/2011] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Dystonia has historically been considered a disorder of the basal ganglia. This review aims to critically examine the evidence for a role of the cerebellum in the pathophysiology of dystonia. We compare and attempt to link the information available from both clinical and experimental studies; work detailing cerebellar connectivity in primates; data that suggests a role for the cerebellum in the genesis of dystonia in murine models; clinical observation in humans with structural lesions and heredodegenerative disorders of the cerebellum; and imaging studies of patients with dystonia. The typical electrophysiological findings in dystonia are the converse to those found in cerebellar lesions. However, certain subtypes of dystonia mirror cerebellar patterns of increased cortical inhibition. Furthermore, altered cerebellar function can be demonstrated in adult onset focal dystonia with impaired cerebellar inhibition of motor cortex and abnormal eyeblink classical conditioning. We propose that abnormal, likely compensatory activity of the cerebellum is an important factor within pathophysiological models of dystonia. Work in this exciting area has only just begun but it is likely that the cerebellum will have a key place within future models of dystonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sadnicka
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Institute for Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
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15
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Abstract
This series of articles for rehabilitation in practice aims to cover a knowledge element of the rehabilitation medicine curriculum. Nevertheless they are intended to be of interest to a multidisciplinary audience. The competency addressed in this article is 'The trainee consistently demonstrates a knowledge of management approaches for specific impairments including spasticity, ataxia.'
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Marsden
- School of Health Professions, Peninsula Allied Health Centre, Derriford Road, University of Plymouth, PL6 8BH, UK.
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16
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Pennisi G, Ferri R, Lanza G, Cantone M, Pennisi M, Puglisi V, Malaguarnera G, Bella R. Transcranial magnetic stimulation in Alzheimer's disease: a neurophysiological marker of cortical hyperexcitability. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2011; 118:587-98. [PMID: 21207079 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-010-0554-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2010] [Accepted: 11/29/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recently, neuropathological studies have shown an important motor cortex involvement in Alzheimer's disease (AD), even in its early stages, despite the lack of clinically evident motor deficit. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies have demonstrated that cortical excitability is enhanced in AD patients. This cortical hyperexcitability is believed to be a compensatory mechanism to execute voluntary movements, despite the progressive impairment of associative cortical areas. At present, it is not clear if these motor cortex excitability changes might be the expression of an involvement of intracortical excitatory glutamatergic circuits or an impairment of inhibitory cholinergic and, to a lesser extent, gabaergic activity. Although the main hypothesis for the pathogenesis of AD remains the degeneration of the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons, the development of specific TMS protocols, such as the paired-pulse TMS and the study of the short-latency afferent inhibition, points out the role of other neurotransmitters, such as gamma-amino-butyric acid, glutamate and dopamine. The potential therapeutic effect of repetitive TMS in restoring or compensating damaged cognitive functions, might become a possible rehabilitation tool in AD patients. Based on different patterns of cortical excitability, TMS may be useful in discriminating between physiological brain aging, mild cognitive impairment, AD and other dementing disorders. The present review provides a perspective of these TMS techniques by further understanding the role of different neurotransmission pathways and plastic remodelling of neuronal networks in the pathogenesis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Pennisi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
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17
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van Gaalen J, Giunti P, van de Warrenburg BP. Movement disorders in spinocerebellar ataxias. Mov Disord 2011; 26:792-800. [PMID: 21370272 DOI: 10.1002/mds.23584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2010] [Revised: 11/12/2010] [Accepted: 11/14/2010] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) can present with a large variety of noncerebellar symptoms, including movement disorders. In fact, movement disorders are frequent in many of the various SCA subtypes, and they can be the presenting, dominant, or even isolated disease feature. When combined with cerebellar ataxia, the occurrence of a specific movement disorder can provide a clue toward the underlying genotype. There are reasons to believe that for some coexisting movement disorders, the cerebellar pathology itself is the culprit, for example, in the case of cortical myoclonus and perhaps dystonia. However, movement disorders in SCAs are more likely related to extracerebellar pathology, and imaging and neuropathological data indeed show involvement of other parts of the motor system (substantia nigra, striatum, pallidum, motor cortex) in some SCA subtypes. When confronted with a patient with an isolated movement disorder, that is, without ataxia, there is currently no reason to routinely screen for SCA gene mutations, the only exceptions being SCA2 in autosomal dominant parkinsonism (particularly in Asian patients) and SCA17 in the case of a Huntington's disease-like presentation without an HTT mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith van Gaalen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute of Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Transcranial magnetic stimulation in Alzheimer's disease: a neurophysiological marker of cortical hyperexcitability. JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION (VIENNA, AUSTRIA : 1996) 2011. [PMID: 21207079 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-010-0554-9.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2022]
Abstract
Recently, neuropathological studies have shown an important motor cortex involvement in Alzheimer's disease (AD), even in its early stages, despite the lack of clinically evident motor deficit. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies have demonstrated that cortical excitability is enhanced in AD patients. This cortical hyperexcitability is believed to be a compensatory mechanism to execute voluntary movements, despite the progressive impairment of associative cortical areas. At present, it is not clear if these motor cortex excitability changes might be the expression of an involvement of intracortical excitatory glutamatergic circuits or an impairment of inhibitory cholinergic and, to a lesser extent, gabaergic activity. Although the main hypothesis for the pathogenesis of AD remains the degeneration of the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons, the development of specific TMS protocols, such as the paired-pulse TMS and the study of the short-latency afferent inhibition, points out the role of other neurotransmitters, such as gamma-amino-butyric acid, glutamate and dopamine. The potential therapeutic effect of repetitive TMS in restoring or compensating damaged cognitive functions, might become a possible rehabilitation tool in AD patients. Based on different patterns of cortical excitability, TMS may be useful in discriminating between physiological brain aging, mild cognitive impairment, AD and other dementing disorders. The present review provides a perspective of these TMS techniques by further understanding the role of different neurotransmission pathways and plastic remodelling of neuronal networks in the pathogenesis of AD.
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19
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Ben Taib NO, Manto M. Trains of transcranial direct current stimulation antagonize motor cortex hypoexcitability induced by acute hemicerebellectomy. J Neurosurg 2009; 111:796-806. [PMID: 19392595 DOI: 10.3171/2008.2.17679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECT The cerebellum is a key modulator of motor cortex activity, allowing both the maintenance and fine-tuning of motor cortex discharges. One elemental defect associated with acute cerebellar lesions is decreased excitability of the contralateral motor cortex, which is assumed to participate in deficits in skilled movements and considered a major defect in motor cortex properties. In the present study, the authors assessed the effect of trains of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which elicits polarity-dependent shifts in resting membrane potentials. METHODS Transcranial DCS countered the defect in motor cortex excitability contralaterally to the hemicerebellar ablation. RESULTS The depression of both the H-reflex and F wave remained unchanged with tDCS, and cutaneomuscular reflexes remained unaffected. Transcranial DCS antagonized motor cortex hypoexcitability induced by high-frequency stimulation of interpositus nucleus. CONCLUSIONS The authors' results show that tDCS has the potential to modulate motor cortex excitability after acute cerebellar dysfunction. By putting the motor cortex at the appropriate level of excitability, tDCS might allow the motor cortex to become more reactive to the procedures of training or learning.
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Koch G, Mori F, Marconi B, Codecà C, Pecchioli C, Salerno S, Torriero S, Lo Gerfo E, Mir P, Oliveri M, Caltagirone C. Changes in intracortical circuits of the human motor cortex following theta burst stimulation of the lateral cerebellum. Clin Neurophysiol 2008; 119:2559-69. [PMID: 18824403 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2008.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2008] [Revised: 08/09/2008] [Accepted: 08/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Koch
- Laboratorio di Neurologia Clinica e Comportamentale, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Via Ardeatina, 306, 00179 Rome, Italy.
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21
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Berardelli A, Abbruzzese G, Chen R, Orth M, Ridding MC, Stinear C, Suppa A, Trompetto C, Thompson PD. Consensus paper on short-interval intracortical inhibition and other transcranial magnetic stimulation intracortical paradigms in movement disorders. Brain Stimul 2008; 1:183-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2008.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2008] [Accepted: 06/09/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Chen R, Cros D, Curra A, Di Lazzaro V, Lefaucheur JP, Magistris MR, Mills K, Rösler KM, Triggs WJ, Ugawa Y, Ziemann U. The clinical diagnostic utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation: Report of an IFCN committee. Clin Neurophysiol 2008; 119:504-532. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2007.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 348] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2007] [Revised: 10/12/2007] [Accepted: 10/18/2007] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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23
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van Rootselaar AF, van der Salm SMA, Bour LJ, Edwards MJ, Brown P, Aronica E, Rozemuller-Kwakkel JM, Koehler PJ, Koelman JHTM, Rothwell JC, Tijssen MAJ. Decreased cortical inhibition and yet cerebellar pathology in ‘familial cortical myoclonic tremor with epilepsy’. Mov Disord 2007; 22:2378-85. [PMID: 17894334 DOI: 10.1002/mds.21738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical hyperexcitability is a feature of "familial cortical myoclonic tremor with epilepsy" (FCMTE). However, neuropathological investigations in a single FCMTE patient showed isolated cerebellar pathology. Pathological investigations in a second FCMTE patient, reported here, confirmed cerebellar Purkinje cell degeneration and a normal sensorimotor cortex. Subsequently, we sought to explore the nature of cerebellar and motor system pathophysiology in FCMTE. Eye movement recordings and transcranial magnetic stimulation performed in six related FCMTE patients showed impaired saccades and smooth pursuit and downbeat nystagmus upon hyperventilation, as in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6. In FCMTE patients short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) was significantly reduced. Resting motor threshold, recruitment curve, silent period, and intracortical facilitation were normal. The neuropathological and ocular motor abnormalities indicate cerebellar involvement in FCMTE patients. Decreased SICI is compatible with intracortical GABA(A)-ergic dysfunction. Cerebellar and intracortical functional changes could result from a common mechanism such as a channelopathy. Alternatively, decreased cortical inhibition may be caused by dysfunction of the cerebello-thalamo-cortical loop as a result of primary cerebellar pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Fleur van Rootselaar
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Torriero S, Oliveri M, Koch G, Lo Gerfo E, Salerno S, Petrosini L, Caltagirone C. Cortical networks of procedural learning: evidence from cerebellar damage. Neuropsychologia 2006; 45:1208-14. [PMID: 17166525 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2006.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2006] [Revised: 10/09/2006] [Accepted: 10/22/2006] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The lateral cerebellum plays a critical role in procedural learning that goes beyond the strict motor control functions attributed to it. Patients with cerebellar damage show marked impairment in the acquisition of procedures, as revealed by their performance on the serial reaction time task (SRTT). Here we present the case of a patient affected by ischemic damage involving the left cerebellum who showed a selective deficit in procedural learning while performing the SRTT with the left hand. The deficit recovered when the cortical excitability of an extensive network involving both cerebellar hemispheres and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was decreased by low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Although inhibition of the right DLPFC or a control fronto-parietal region did not modify the patient's performance, inhibition of the right (unaffected) cerebellum and the left DLPFC markedly improved task performance. These findings could be explained by the modulation of a set of inhibitory and excitatory connections between the lateral cerebellum and the contralateral prefrontal area induced by rTMS. The presence of left cerebellar damage is likely associated with a reduced excitatory drive from sub-cortical left cerebellar nuclei towards the right DLPFC, causing reduced excitability of the right DLPFC and, conversely, unbalanced activation of the left DLPFC. Inhibition of the left DLPFC would reduce the unbalancing of cortical activation, thus explaining the observed selective recovery of procedural memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Torriero
- Laboratorio di Neurologia Clinica e Comportamentale, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
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Fierro B, Giglia G, Palermo A, Pecoraro C, Scalia S, Brighina F. Modulatory effects of 1 Hz rTMS over the cerebellum on motor cortex excitability. Exp Brain Res 2006; 176:440-7. [PMID: 16917771 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-006-0628-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2005] [Accepted: 07/05/2006] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Clinical observations and data from animal experiments point to a physiological facilitatory influence of the deep cerebellar structures on the motor system through the cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathways. The aim of the present study was to explore the long-term effects of low-frequency (1 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the cerebellum on short intracortical inhibition (SICI) and facilitation (ICF) of the motor cortex in normal subjects. Eight healthy subjects (mean age 26.9 +/- 3.1) underwent 1 Hz frequency rTMS delivered on the right cerebellar hemisphere. Before and after cerebellar rTMS, SICI and ICF were assessed in the motor cortex contralateral to the stimulated cerebellar hemisphere by means of a paired pulse paradigm with a conditioning subthreshold stimulus set to 80% of the motor threshold (MT) followed by a testing stimulus at 120% of MT intensity. Five different interstimulus intervals (ISIs) were used to assess SICI (2 and 4 ms) and ICF (7, 10 and 15 ms). Amplitude of the responses was expressed as the percentage of motor evoked potential (MEP) to test stimulus alone. Results showed a significant decrease of ICF at 10 ms ISI that persisted up to 20 min after cerebellar rTMS. This was the only significant modulatory effect of cerebellar stimulation on intracortical motor excitability A suppressive effect of the low-frequency TMS on Purkinje cells could be supposed, even if, the lack of effects on other facilitatory ISIs, stands for more complex modulatory effects of rTMS over cerebellum. The study is a further demonstration that rTMS over the cerebellum induces a long-lasting modulatory effect on the excitability of the interconnected motor area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigida Fierro
- Department of Neurology, University of Palermo, Via G. La Loggia 1, 90129 Palermo, Italy
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Brighina F, Daniele O, Piazza A, Giglia G, Fierro B. Hemispheric cerebellar rTMS to treat drug-resistant epilepsy: Case reports. Neurosci Lett 2006; 397:229-33. [PMID: 16426754 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2005.12.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2005] [Revised: 11/28/2005] [Accepted: 12/09/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Electrical stimulation of the cerebellar cortex by implanted electrodes has been shown to ameliorate refractory epilepsy. We investigated the potential therapeutic role of high-frequency cerebellar rTMS in patients affected by refractory epilepsy due to single or multiple foci. Six patients, three with single and three with multiple epileptic foci, underwent 20 rTMS sessions. Each session was given daily, excluding weekends, and consisted of two trains of 50 stimuli (5 Hz frequency and 90% motor threshold intensity), separated by 50s interval. rTMS was delivered through a focal coil (2 cm below and lateral to the inion) bilaterally in patients with multiple foci (two trains for hemisphere: 100 stimuli each side) and contralaterally to the epileptic focus in the others. Seizure frequency was monitored four weeks before stimulation (pre-rTMS), during the four-week treatment (rTMS) and four weeks after the treatment (post-rTMS). The rTMS over the cerebellar cortex was associated with a significant decrease of rTMS versus pre-rTMS seizure frequency both in patients with single and multiple epileptic foci. However, during the post-rTMS period seizure frequency was back to the pre-rTMS frequency. Although the results are still preliminary, they encourage further studies on larger series of patients. In particular, this rTMS approach, as compared with others, might be more useful in patients with multiple epileptic foci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Brighina
- Neurophysiological Unit, University of Palermo, Institute of Neuropsychiatry, Via G. La Loggia, 1, 90129 Palermo, Italy
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Brighina F, Scalia S, Gennuso M, Lupo I, Matta F, Piccoli T, Fierro B. Hypo-excitability of cortical areas in patients affected by Friedreich ataxia: A TMS study. J Neurol Sci 2005; 235:19-22. [PMID: 15961108 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2005.03.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2004] [Accepted: 03/04/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to explore excitability of a motor and a non-motor (visual) area in patients affected by Friedreich ataxia and to correlate neurophysiological data with clinical parameters. Seven patients (3M/4F) and ten healthy controls (5M/5F) participated in the study. The hot-spot for activation of right abductor pollicis brevis was checked by means of a figure-of-eight coil and the motor threshold (MT) on this point was recorded. The phosphene threshold (PT) was measured by means of a focal coil over the occipital cortex as the lower intensity of magnetic stimulation able to induce the perception of phosphenes. The patients showed a significantly higher mean PT (p<.03) and MT values (p<.001) than controls. In all but one patient unable to perceive phosphenes (42% vs. 50% of controls), TMS at 100% intensity did not elicit motor response at rest. The difference in percentage of patients (57.1%) and controls (100%) with motor responses was nearly significant. The size of GAA1 expansion showed significant correlations with PT and MT values. The results of our study showed that FA patients had reduced cortical activation, involving both the motor and the visual cortex. The cortical involvement in these patients seems to be mainly genetically determined. The study provides the first evidence of cortical dysfunction in patients with genetically defined Friedreich ataxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Brighina
- Dipartimento di Nerurologia, Oftalmologia, Otorinolaringoiatria e Psichiatria, Università di Palermo, Italy
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to confirm the excitability profile of human cortical circuits on the motor evoked potential (MEP) and the silent period (SP) after paired transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with variable interstimulus intervals (ISI), and to compare the time courses of MEP and SP after paired TMS at variable ISIs. MEPs were elicited at the hypothenar muscles at rest, and during tonic muscle contraction by applying paired TMS to the motor cortex. The authors measured the MEP amplitude during rest and the duration of SP during tonic muscle contraction at various ISIs. The response to paired stimuli was inhibited by an ISI of 15 ms and facilitated by an ISI of 1020 ms. The SP at an ISI of 15 ms was shorter than that at the single suprathreshold stimulus, but the SP at an ISI of 1525 ms was longer than this. A significant correlation was observed between the MEP amplitude and the duration of SP at ISIs of 120 ms and for a CS of 80% of threshold. These results may provide useful data for the study of the function of cortical excitability in disease states and suggest that the neural circuits underlying MEP and SP differ partly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dai-Youl Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Weiss T, Miltner WHR, Liepert J, Meissner W, Taub E. Rapid functional plasticity in the primary somatomotor cortex and perceptual changes after nerve block. Eur J Neurosci 2004; 20:3413-23. [PMID: 15610174 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03790.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The mature human primary somatosensory cortex displays a striking plastic capacity to reorganize itself in response to changes in sensory input. Following the elimination of afferent return, produced by either amputation, deafferentation by dorsal rhizotomy, or nerve block, there is a well-known but little-understood 'invasion' of the deafferented region of the brain by the cortical representation zones of still-intact portions of the brain adjacent to it. We report here that within an hour of abolishing sensation from the radial and medial three-quarters of the hand by pharmacological blockade of the radial and median nerves, magnetic source imaging showed that the cortical representation of the little finger and the skin beneath the lower lip, whose intact cortical representation zones are adjacent to the deafferented region, had moved closer together, presumably because of their expansion across the deafferented area. A paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation procedure revealed a motor cortex disinhibition for two muscles supplied by the unaffected ulnar nerve. In addition, two notable perceptual changes were observed: increased two-point discrimination ability near the lip and mislocalization of touch of the intact ulnar portion of the fourth finger to the neighbouring third finger whose nerve supply was blocked. We suggest that disinhibition within the somatosensory system as a functional correlate for the known enlargement of cortical representation zones might account for not only the 'invasion' phenomenon, but also for the observed behavioural correlates of the nerve block.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Weiss
- Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Am Steiger 3 Haus 1, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
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Tamburin S, Fiaschi A, Marani S, Andreoli A, Manganotti P, Zanette G. Enhanced intracortical inhibition in cerebellar patients. J Neurol Sci 2004; 217:205-10. [PMID: 14706225 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2003.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to examine intracortical excitability in cerebellar patients. METHODS Short-latency intracortical inhibition (SICI), long-latency intracortical inhibition (LICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) to paired transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were investigated in 8 patients with 'pure' cerebellar syndromes and in 14 age-matched normal controls. The conditioning stimulus for short-latency intracortical inhibition and intracortical facilitation was set at 70% of the resting motor threshold (RMT) and preceded the test stimulus (110-120% of the resting motor threshold) by interstimulus intervals (ISIs) of 1-30 ms. For the long-latency intracortical inhibition determinations, the conditioning stimulus was set at 120% of the resting motor threshold and preceded the test stimulus (also 120% of the resting motor threshold) by interstimulus intervals of 30-500 ms. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were found between patients and controls as regards either short-latency intracortical inhibition or intracortical facilitation. A significant prevalence of long-latency intracortical inhibition was present in cerebellar patients at interstimulus intervals of 200-500 ms (conditioned MEP amplitude=29-41% of test MEP) as compared to controls (71-96% of test MEP). The amplitude of conditioned MEPs was persistently less than 45% of the test MEP in six patients, who were studied at interstimulus intervals up to 1000 ms. CONCLUSIONS Long-latency intracortical inhibition was prevalent and abnormally longer-lasting in patients. Tonic hyperactivation of a subpopulation of GABAergic interneurons in the motor cortex of patients may be the mechanism responsible for this abnormality. Our findings seem to be specific to cerebellar diseases and are the opposite of those found in movement disorders such as dystonia and Parkinson's disease. These data suggest that the cerebellum and the basal ganglia may have opposite influences in tuning the excitability of the motor cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Tamburin
- Section of Neurological Rehabilitation, Department of Neurological Sciences and Vision, University of Verona, Italy.
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Chen R. Interactions between inhibitory and excitatory circuits in the human motor cortex. Exp Brain Res 2003; 154:1-10. [PMID: 14579004 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-003-1684-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 323] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2003] [Accepted: 07/15/2003] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cortical activity depends on the balance between excitatory and inhibitory influences. Several different excitatory and inhibitory systems in the human motor cortex can be tested by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). While considerable information is known about these different inhibitory and excitatory phenomena individually, how they are related to each other and how they interact is not well understood. Several recent studies have investigated the interactions between some of these circuits by applying them together. It has been found that short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and long-interval intracortical inhibition (LICI) are mediated by different circuits. LICI appears to inhibit SICI, which may occur through presynaptic GABA(B) receptors. Interhemispheric inhibition elicited by stimulation of the contralateral motor cortex also inhibits SICI and may share inhibitory mechanisms with LICI. Long-interval afferent inhibition induced by median nerve stimulation inhibits LICI but does not interact with SICI. Based on these results, a model of interactions between different inhibitory systems that can be tested and refined in the future is proposed. Further studies of the interaction between different cortical inhibitory and excitatory circuits should improve our understanding of the functional organization of the motor cortex and allow better interpretation of abnormal findings in disease states. It may also be developed into a new way of studying the pathophysiology of diseases and the effects of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Chen
- Division of Neurology and Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Sakihara K, Yorifuji S, Ihara A, Izumi H, Kono K, Takahashi Y, Imaoka H, Ogino S. Transcranial magnetic stimulation over the cerebellum evokes late potential in the soleus muscle. Neurosci Res 2003; 46:257-62. [PMID: 12767489 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-0102(03)00064-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with a double cone coil placed over the left lateral side of the basal occiput was able to elicit late electromyographic (EMG) responses at the bilateral soleus muscles (SOL) averaged over 30 stimulation events, with a mean latency of approximately 100 ms. These EMG responses were detected using a low frequency bandpass filter with 0.05 Hz magnetic stimulation on ten healthy subjects in standing posture. As magnetic stimulation over the left basal occiput with a double cone coil can stimulate cerebellar structure, this late response seems to be conducted from the cerebellar structure to the SOL via an as yet unknown descending pathway. Here, we report new late EMG responses in relation to cerebellum or cerebellum related structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Sakihara
- Department of Basic Laboratory Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-7, Yamadaoka, Suita, Japan.
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Abnormal cutaneomotor integration in patients with cerebellar syndromes: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Clin Neurophysiol 2003; 114:643-51. [PMID: 12686273 DOI: 10.1016/s1388-2457(03)00002-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the sensorimotor interactions in cerebellar patients. METHODS We investigated the effects of electrical stimulation of the second (D2) and fifth (D5) fingers on the amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in response to transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) in the relaxed right abductor digiti minimi muscles of 7 patients with cerebellar syndromes and of 14 age-matched controls. The digital stimulation was set at 3 times the sensory threshold and preceded brain stimulation at interstimulus intervals (ISIs) ranging from 10 to 100 ms. RESULTS D5 stimulation produced significant MEP inhibition in normal subjects at ISIs of 20-50 ms, while D2 stimulation resulted in a non-significant inhibitory trend with the same intervals. In contrast, digital stimulation had no effect on MEP amplitude in cerebellar patients. A significant difference was found between patients and controls at ISIs of 20-50 ms with D5 stimulation. The difference in amplitude of MEPs conditioned by D5 and D2 stimulation was statistically significant between patients and controls at ISIs of 30 and 50 ms. TES conditioning induced MEP inhibition only at ISIs <40 ms. CONCLUSIONS Digital stimulation would appear to modulate motor system excitability less effectively in cerebellar patients. MEP inhibition by cutaneous afferences is reduced in response to stimulation of contiguous, as well as non-contiguous fingers. The difference between the conditioning effects of the two fingers is also decreased, and therefore the somatotopic distribution of cutaneomotor inhibition is absent in patients. These abnormalities may contribute to the genesis of cerebellar motor symptoms and their time course suggests involvement of subcortical and cortical sites.
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Abstract
The author reviews the applications of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in a series of movement disorders--namely, Parkinson's disease, corticobasal degeneration, multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, essential tremor, dystonia, Huntington's chorea, myoclonus, the ataxias, Tourette's syndrome, restless legs syndrome, Wilson's disease, Rett syndrome, and stiff-person syndrome. Single- and paired-pulse TMS studies have been done mainly for pathophysiologic purposes. Repetitive TMS has been used largely for therapy. Many TMS abnormalities are seen in the different diseases. They concur to show that motor cortical areas and their projections are the main target of the basal ganglia dysfunction typical of movement disorders. Interpretation has not always been clear, and sometimes there were discrepancies and contradictions. Largely, this may be the result of the extreme heterogeneity of the methods used and of the patients studied. It is premature to give repetitive TMS a role in treatment. Overall, however, TMS gives rise to a new, outstanding enthusiasm in the neurophysiology of movement disorders. There is reason to predict that TMS, with its continuous technical refinement, will prove even more helpful in the near future. Then, research achievements are reasonably expected to spill over into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Cantello
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Neurology, School of Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University, Novara, Italy.
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Restivo DA, Lanza S, Saponara R, Rapisarda G, Giuffrida S, Palmeri A. Changes of cortical excitability of human motor cortex in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. A study with paired transcranial magnetic stimulation. J Neurol Sci 2002; 198:87-92. [PMID: 12039668 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-510x(02)00086-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate motor cortex excitability in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2). Cortical silent period (CSP), motor thresholds, and intracortical inhibition and facilitation by paired transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were investigated in 18 SCA2 patients and in 20 controls. The mean CSP duration and motor threshold after TMS were significantly increased in the patient group. Intracortical inhibition by paired TMS at short interstimulus intervals (ISIs) showed no significant differences between patients and controls; at longer ISIs, the expected facilitation of test responses, observed in control subjects, resulted significantly less marked in SCA2 patients at all the tested intervals. Our findings extend previous findings on cerebellar dysfunctions of varying aetiologies by investigating intracortical excitability in SCA2. In addition, this study demonstrates that the cortical excitability involvement found in SCA2 is independent on the cytosine-adenine-guanine repeat expansion. The neurophysiological alterations seen in our patients relate to the worsening of general clinical condition. Thus, we might speculate that changes of motor cortex excitability in SCA2 represent a slow neurodegenerative process characterized by gradual loss of cerebellar neurons leading to an increasing disturbance of the balance between inhibitory and excitatory circuits in the motor system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico A Restivo
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
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Schwenkreis P, Tegenthoff M, Witscher K, Börnke C, Przuntek H, Malin JP, Schöls L. Motor cortex activation by transcranial magnetic stimulation in ataxia patients depends on the genetic defect. Brain 2002; 125:301-9. [PMID: 11844730 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awf023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In patients with degenerative ataxia, various abnormalities in motor cortex activation by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have been observed, including a reduction of intracortical facilitation and a lengthening of the silent period. However, the groups of patients examined in previous studies were heterogeneous, involving patients with autosomal-dominant and idiopathic cerebellar ataxia, and showing different clinical features. The aim of our present study was to investigate whether differences in motor cortex activation by TMS could be observed in genetically defined subtypes of degenerative ataxia. We examined six patients with Friedreich's ataxia, three patients with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) type 1, seven patients with SCA2, 12 patients with SCA3, nine patients with SCA6 and 14 healthy controls. In all subjects, motor threshold, central motor conduction time, cortical silent period after TMS, and intracortical inhibition and facilitation (as assessed by TMS using a paired pulses paradigm) were determined. Additionally, F wave amplitudes evoked by electrical peripheral nerve stimulation were measured. We found a significant reduction of intracortical facilitation in SCA2 and SCA3 patients. Furthermore, motor threshold was elevated in SCA1, central motor conduction time was lengthened in patients with Friedreich's ataxia and SCA1, and F wave amplitudes were enlarged in all the genetic subgroups except for SCA6. Silent period and intracortical inhibition did not differ between patients and controls. We conclude that changes of intracortical facilitation induced by TMS and other excitability parameters of the motor system are not a common phenomenon in degenerative ataxia, but are restricted to specific subtypes. This points to differences in the underlying pathophysiological processes in genetic subtypes of ataxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Schwenkreis
- Department of Neurology, Ruhr-University Bochum, BG-Kliniken Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore subclinical disturbances in the motor cortex of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS We used transcranial magnetic stimulation in a paired pulse technique to test intracortical inhibition (ICI) and intracortical facilitation in mildly to moderately demented AD patients with a normal neurological examination. Patients were studied before and during treatment with the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil. RESULTS AD patients had a reduced ICI compared to an age-matched control group. The amount of disinhibition correlated with the severity of dementia. Treatment with 10 mg donepezil daily was associated with an increase of ICI. CONCLUSIONS The subclinical motor cortex disinhibition in AD patients indicates a functional disturbance, and is probably associated with a cholinergic deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Liepert
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
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Nielsen JE, Jennum P, Fenger K, Sørensen SA, Fuglsang-Frederiksen A. Increased intracortical facilitation in patients with autosomal dominant pure spastic paraplegia linked to chromosome 2p. Eur J Neurol 2001; 8:335-9. [PMID: 11422430 DOI: 10.1046/j.1468-1331.2001.00249.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
There are at least seven clinically indistinguishable but genetically different types of autosomal dominant pure spastic paraplegia (ADPSP). In this study we investigated electrophysiological characteristics in patients with ADPSP linked to chromosome 2p (SPG4). Twelve patients from six different families with ADPSP linked to chromosome 2p and 15 control persons were included. Electromyography (EMG), motor and sensory nerve conduction, and motor evoked potentials using single and paired transcranial magnetic stimulation (PTMS) was performed. From the peripheral nervous system we found signs of motor and sensory axonal neuropathy. Motor evoked potentials disclosed greatly reduced corticospinal tract conduction velocity and amplitude of evoked potentials to the lower extremities indicating that the very marked spasticity predominantly seems to rely on dysfunction of the fast conducting axons of the pyramidal tract. PTMS showed an increased intracortical facilitation (ICF), which may reflect an impaired function of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-controlled interneuronal circuits in the motor cortex, alternatively an increased glutamatergic transmission or a compensatory recruitment of a larger number of neurones with corticospinal projections.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Nielsen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Medical Biochemistry & Genetics, Section of Neurogenetics, University of Copenhagen, The Panum Institute, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
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Nomura T, Takeshima T, Nakashima K. Reduced pre-movement facilitation of motor evoked potentials in spinocerebellar degeneration. J Neurol Sci 2001; 187:41-7. [PMID: 11440743 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-510x(01)00522-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to clarify the cerebellar effects on the motor area of the cerebral cortex and abnormal control mechanisms of voluntary movement in spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD). We used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study the change in the motor evoked potentials (MEPs) before voluntary movement (pre-movement facilitation) in patients with SCD. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Pre-movement facilitation of MEPs in subjects' muscles was observed during their thumb movement intention. Patients with SCD, who showed cerebellar signs, without pyramidal or extrapyramidal signs, were examined. TMS was applied randomly during the interval between the "go" signal and the onset of voluntary EMG. The MEPs were recorded from the abductor brevis pollicis muscle. RESULTS Patients with SCD showed a delay of task performance. In control subjects, the amplitude of MEPs was significantly facilitated (increased) prior to voluntary movement. In patients with SCD, pre-movement facilitation of the amplitude of MEPs was significantly decreased in the study with subthreshold TMS. CONCLUSIONS Disturbance of pre-movement facilitation in SCD may indicate incomplete cerebellar regulation of voluntary movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Nomura
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishimachi, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
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Kent RD, Duffy JR, Slama A, Kent JF, Clift A. Clinicoanatomic studies in dysarthria: review, critique, and directions for research. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2001; 44:535-551. [PMID: 11407559 DOI: 10.1044/1092-4388(2001/042)] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
More than 30 years ago, Darley, Aronson, and Brown (1969) proposed clinicoanatomic correlations for seven perceptual types of dysarthria. These correlations have not been systematically re-examined even though imaging technologies developed in recent years provide the means to do so. This review considers data from published imaging studies as well as data from selected medical interventions to evaluate the current state of knowledge that relates lesion site to the nature of a speech disturbance. Although the extant data are not sufficient to allow a complete evaluation of the seven types of dysarthria described by Darley et al., relevant information has been reported on lesions of the pyramidal pathway, extrapyramidal pathway, and cerebellum. In general, the results are best explained by an equivalence mode of brain-behavior relationship in which a type of dysarthria is associated with a lesion in one of two or more brain structures. Criteria also are proposed for future studies of clinicoanatomic relationships in neurogenic communication disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- R D Kent
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53705-2280, USA.
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Liepert J, Haueisen J, Hegemann S, Weiller C. Disinhibition of somatosensory and motor cortex in mitochondriopathy without myoclonus. Clin Neurophysiol 2001; 112:917-22. [PMID: 11336909 DOI: 10.1016/s1388-2457(01)00521-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test electrophysiologically, if patients with mitochondriopathy but without evidence of myocloni have subclinical signs of disinhibition in motor and somatosensory cortices. METHODS Two patients were studied and compared with age-matched control groups. RESULTS In both patients, giant somatosensory evoked potentials after median nerve stimulation and a reduced intracortical inhibition tested by transcranial magnetic stimulation in a paired pulse paradigm indicated a dysfunction of inhibitory circuits in the motor as well as the somatosensory cortex. In addition, the somatosensory evoked 600 Hz activity recorded by magnetoencephalography was abolished. CONCLUSIONS Patients with mitochondriopathy may suffer from a subclinical disturbance of inhibition in the sensorimotor cortex. The loss of 600 Hz activity indicates that these high-frequency oscillations could reflect the activity of inhibitory neurons in the somatosensory cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Liepert
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.
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Marchese R, Trompetto C, Buccolieri A, Abbruzzese G. Abnormalities of motor cortical excitability are not correlated with clinical features in atypical parkinsonism. Mov Disord 2000; 15:1210-4. [PMID: 11104207 DOI: 10.1002/1531-8257(200011)15:6<1210::aid-mds1022>3.0.co;2-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the specificity of motor cortical excitability changes in parkinsonian syndromes and their relevance to the pathophysiology of cardinal parkinsonian features. METHODS Paired transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to assess cortico-cortical inhibition (CCI) and facilitation (CCF) in the opponens pollicis muscle of patients with atypical, non-L-dopa- (LD) responsive parkinsonism. RESULTS Compared with age-matched normal control subjects, CCI (interstimulus interval [ISI], 3 ms) was significantly reduced in 10 patients with predominantly parkinsonian multiple system atrophy (MSA-P) and in seven with vascular parkinsonism (VP), but not in four with predominantly cerebellar MSA. No significant change of CCF (ISI, 12 ms) was observed. No correlation was found between the amount of CCI and clinical status as evaluated with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). In 10 patients (5 MSA-P, 5 VP), CCI was significantly increased by LD acute administration without concurrent clinical changes. CONCLUSIONS Abnormalities of CCI are not peculiar to idiopathic Parkinson's disease and seem unlikely to underlie any specific parkinsonian feature, but rather possibly reflect a nonspecific imbalance of inhibitory and facilitatory motor cortical circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Marchese
- Department of Neurological Sciences and Vision, University of Genoa, Italy
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Maeda F, Keenan JP, Pascual-Leone A. Interhemispheric asymmetry of motor cortical excitability in major depression as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Br J Psychiatry 2000; 177:169-73. [PMID: 11026958 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.177.2.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroimaging studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) indicate interhemispheric differences in prefrontal cortical activity (right greater than left). AIMS To investigate whether there are any interhemispheric differences of motor cortical excitability in MDD. METHOD Eight patients with treatment-refractory MDD off medication were assessed for the severity of their depression, and transcranial magnetic stimulation studies (bilateral motor threshold and paired-pulse studies) were conducted. Eight normal controls were also studied. RESULTS MDD patients showed significant interhemispheric differences in motor threshold and paired-pulse curves, both of which showed lower excitability on the left hemisphere. Such differences were absent in controls. CONCLUSIONS Our findings may aid the further understanding of the neurophysiology underlying MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Maeda
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Cicinelli P, Traversa R, Oliveri M, Palmieri MG, Filippi MM, Pasqualetti P, Rossini PM. Intracortical excitatory and inhibitory phenomena to paired transcranial magnetic stimulation in healthy human subjects: differences between the right and left hemisphere. Neurosci Lett 2000; 288:171-4. [PMID: 10889335 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(00)01216-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Intracortical inhibition (ICI) and facilitation (ICF) to paired magnetic stimuli reflect the activation of interneuronal circuits within the motor cortex. Intersubjects physiological variability of these phenomena, partly limits the usefulness of such method. Therefore, interhemispheric ICI/ICF differences might represent a more sensitive and less variable neurophysiological parameter to test the motor cortex excitability. Motor evoked potentials from the hand muscles were recorded in ten healthy subjects in a paired-pulse paradigm. Interstimulus intervals (ISIs) from 1 to 50 ms were used. The time course of ICI and ICF in the two hemispheres is consistent with minimal interhemispheric asymmetries. The interhemispheric differences of ICI and ICF could be a valuable neurophysiological marker for the diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of neurological diseases characterized by monohemispheric damage and lateralized motor deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Cicinelli
- IRCCS Ospedale di Riabilitazione S. Lucia, Rome, Italy
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Liepert J, Hallett M, Samii A, Oddo D, Celnik P, Cohen LG, Wassermann EM. Motor cortex excitability in patients with cerebellar degeneration. Clin Neurophysiol 2000; 111:1157-64. [PMID: 10880788 DOI: 10.1016/s1388-2457(00)00308-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To study motor cortex (M1) excitability and the effect of subthreshold transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in patients with cerebellar degeneration and normals performing a reaction time (RT) task. METHODS Time to wrist flexion after a visual go-signal was measured. TMS was always delivered at 90% of resting motor evoked potential (MEP) threshold. In one experiment, test TMS was delivered at various intervals after the go-signal. In half the trials priming TMS was also given with the go-signal. A second experiment examined the effect on RT of M1 and occipital priming stimulation alone. RESULTS M1 excitability, measured as the likelihood of producing MEPs in the wrist flexor muscles, increased immediately after the go-signal in the patients and stayed high until movement. In controls, excitability rose gradually. This difference was largely eliminated by priming TMS. RT was longer in the patient group, but improved with priming TMS. Occipital priming produced less effect on RT than M1 stimulation in both controls (P=0.008) and patients (P=0.0004). CONCLUSIONS M1 excitability prior to movement in an RT task increases abnormally early in cerebellar patients. This may reflect compensation for deficient thalamocortical drive. Subthreshold TMS can partially normalize the prolonged RT and abnormal excitability rise in cerebellar patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Liepert
- Human Motor Control Section, Medical Neurology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, MD, Bethesda, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To test whether a disinhibition occurs in the human motor cortex after stroke. METHODS Patients with a mild to moderate hemiparesis after an acute unilateral ischemic stroke were compared with age-matched healthy controls. We used paired transcranial magnetic stimuli (TMS) to investigate intracortical inhibition and facilitation. Single TMS were applied to obtain a cortical silent period. RESULTS Intracortical inhibition was significantly reduced in the affected hemisphere at interstimulus intervals of 2, 3 and 4 ms. The cortical silent period was significantly prolonged when compared to the unaffected hemisphere of the patients and to the control group. Motor cortex disinhibition observed in stroke patients was associated either with minimal impairment at the onset of symptoms or with rapidly improving motor functions. CONCLUSIONS Motor cortex disinhibition occurs in humans after stroke. We suggest that this disinhibition is indicative of compensatory mechanisms, which are involved in recovery-related reorganization.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Liepert
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich Schiller University, D-07743, Jena, Germany.
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Schwenkreis P, Witscher K, Janssen F, Addo A, Dertwinkel R, Zenz M, Malin JP, Tegenthoff M. Influence of the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist memantine on human motor cortex excitability. Neurosci Lett 1999; 270:137-40. [PMID: 10462113 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00492-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist memantine on motor excitability in humans. Seven healthy volunteers received memantine or placebo, respectively, over a period of 8 days. At day 8, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was performed using a paired pulses paradigm in order to assess intracortical inhibition and facilitation. Additionally, motor threshold and silent period duration after TMS were measured as well as M waves, F waves and peripheral silent period after electrical peripheral nerve stimulation. Intracortical inhibition was enhanced, and intracortical facilitation reduced after memantine ingestion in comparison to placebo, whereas no significant difference could be observed regarding the other neurophysiological parameters. We conclude that the NMDA receptor is involved in the regulation of excitability of intracortical interneuronal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Schwenkreis
- Department of Neurology, Ruhr-University Bochum, BG-Kliniken Bergmannsheil, Germany.
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