Motor cortex excitability in restless legs syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
A review of the literature shows that the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a useful neurophysiological tool to investigate the pathophysiology of the restless legs syndrome (RLS). In this study we used TMS to define motor cortical excitability in RLS subjects.


METHODS
Six RLS patients and two healthy control subjects underwent TMS (single and paired) examination using two protocols: (1) the evaluation of motor cortical excitability changes occurring at various times after a repetitive finger movement task; (2) the evaluation of the time course of intracortical motor activity tested with pairs of magnetic stimuli applied at inter-stimulus intervals of 1-6 ms.


RESULTS
Subjects affected by RLS do not show the normal fluctuations of motor cortical excitability usually found after a bimanual finger movement task. The intracortical inhibition was reduced in RLS subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
These results compared with the other studies suggest a modification in the central circuits and suppose a reduction or alteration in the cortical plasticity.
Scalise
Anna
A
Department of Neurosciences, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Piazzale S. Maria della Misericordia 15, Udine, Italy. annascalise@libero.it
Cadore
Italo Pittaro
IP
Gigli
Gian Luigi
GL
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005385:Fingers / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*