title: Direct demonstration of the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the excitability of the human motor cortex.
abstract: The effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS; 20 stimuli at 5 Hz at 120% resting motor threshold intensity using a biphasic stimulus pulse) on the excitability of human motor cortex were investigated in two patients who had an electrode implanted into the cervical epidural space. The corticospinal D wave increased in amplitude with successive stimuli, and reached a maximum after three or five pulses. At this stage, the amplitude of the I waves was unchanged, but after a further 10 stimuli an additional I wave was recruited. Both effects were still evident 2 min after the end of the rTMS. The effects are compatible with a short-term increase in cortical excitability during suprathreshold rTMS.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. vdilazzaro@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Lazzaro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliviero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berardelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazzone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Insola
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pilato
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saturno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dileone
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tonali
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rothwell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000502:physiology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation