Transcranial magnetic stimulation and epilepsy.
Epileptic conditions are characterized by an altered balance between excitatory and inhibitory influences at the cortical level. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) provides a noninvasive evaluation of separate excitatory and inhibitory functions of the cerebral cortex. In addition, repetitive TMS (rTMS) can modulate the excitability of cortical networks. We review the different ways that TMS has been used to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms and effects of antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy and epileptic myoclonus. The safety of different TMS techniques is discussed too. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic prospects of rTMS in this field.
Tassinari
Carlo Alberto
CA
Department of Neurosciences, Division of Neurology, Bellaria Hospital, Via Altura 3, 40139 Bologna, Italy. carloalberto.tassinari@ausl.bo.it
Cincotta
Massimo
M
Zaccara
Gaetano
G
Michelucci
Roberto
R
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants