Transcallosal sensorimotor integration: effects of sensory input on cortical projections to the contralateral hand.
OBJECTIVE
Low amplitude vibration of forearm or hand muscles predominantly activates proprioceptive inputs that influence corticospinal projections in a focal manner, increasing output to the stimulated muscle while reducing output to neighbouring muscles. Modulation of contralateral forearm muscles by vibration has also been reported on one occasion. The aim of the current investigation was to investigate the effects of proprioceptive input from a hand muscle on corticospinal excitability, intracortical inhibition (SICI) and interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) targeting the homologous contralateral muscle.


METHODS
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) was delivered to the left cortical hand area of 10 healthy subjects and surface electromyography (EMG) recordings taken from the right First Dorsal Interosseus (FDI) and Abductor Digiti Minimi (ADM). The effect of low amplitude vibration of the left FDI on MEP amplitudes, SICI and IHI targeting the right hand was assessed.


RESULTS
Vibration of the left FDI caused a significant reduction in MEP amplitudes in the homologous right FDI but not in the right ADM. SICI and IHI targeting both muscles were also significantly increased.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that proprioceptive input from a hand muscle reduces the corticospinal excitability of the contralateral homologous muscle. The increases in SICI and IHI suggest that at least some of this effect occurs in the cortex ipsilateral to the stimulus and this may be mediated via transcallosal fibres.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that sensory input can modulate excitability in both motor cortices simultaneously, as well as the relationship between them. Interventions which modulate this transcallosal relationship may become useful in disorders where abnormal IHI is a potential therapeutic target.
Swayne
Orlando
O
Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, 8-11 Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK. o.swayne@ion.ucl.ac.uk
Rothwell
John
J
Rosenkranz
Karin
K
D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000502:physiology; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D014732:Vibration