title: Optimal focal transcranial magnetic activation of the human motor cortex: effects of coil orientation, shape of the induced current pulse, and stimulus intensity.
abstract: We studied the effects of coil orientation, stimulus intensity, and shape of the induced current pulse on the amplitudes of motor evoked potentials in the left abductor pollicis brevis of 10 normal adults who had transcranial magnetic stimulation. The optimal direction of currents induced in the brain is approximately perpendicular to the central sulcus, flowing diagonally from back to front. The most effective coil orientation depends on the shape of the induced current pulse and, when the first and second phases of the pulse are of similar size, also on the intensity of stimulation. Optimal mapping of the human motor cortex with magnetic stimulation requires knowledge of the influences of all these factors.
authors.affiliation: Human Cortical Physiology Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Brasil-Neto
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panizza
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology