title: Subthreshold prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces motor cortex excitability.
abstract: The prefrontal cortex plays an important role in central motor control. We have examined whether prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) induces changes of motor cortex excitability determined by motor evoked potentials (MEPs) following single-pulse TMS. We studied 18 healthy volunteers stimulated at 5 Hz with 10% subthreshold prefrontal vs. occipital rTMS for 12 s. MEPs from the flexor carpi radialis muscle after single-pulse vertex stimulation were recorded during rTMS at 0, 4, 8, and 12 s. MEP areas decreased significantly after 8 s of prefrontal rTMS (P < 0. 05) but not after occipital rTMS. We conclude that rTMS of the prefrontal cortex may inhibit the primary motor areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical School Hannover, 30623 Hannover, Germany. rollnik.jens@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rollnik
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dengler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*