Magnetoelectric brain stimulation in the assessment of brain physiology and pathophysiology.
OBJECTIVE
To review findings from transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced motor evoked potentials in normal subjects, in various neurological diseases and with pharmacologic manipulation.


METHODS
MEDLINE was searched to identify pertinent articles and articles referenced therein were also reviewed.


RESULTS
TMS is a safe and non-invasive technique which has been used widely in the study of corticospinal and corticocortical connectivity as well as in the assessment of basal ganglia disorders, diffuse diseases, and neuropharmacology.


CONCLUSIONS
TMS motor measures have utility in examination of brain structure and function within and beyond the corticospinal tract. These measures have both research and clinical applications.
Boylan
L S
LS
Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. lsb21@columbia.edu
Sackeim
H A
HA
D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology