Systematic assessment of training-induced changes in corticospinal output to hand using frameless stereotaxic transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Measuring changes in the characteristics of corticospinal output has become a critical part of assessing the impact of motor experience on cortical organization in both the intact and injured human brain. In this protocol we describe a method for systematically assessing training-induced changes in corticospinal output that integrates volumetric anatomical MRI with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). A TMS coil is sited to a target grid superimposed onto a 3D MRI of cortex using a stereotaxic neuronavigation system. Subjects are then required to exercise the first dorsal interosseus (FDI) muscle on two different tasks for a total of 30 min. The protocol allows for reliably and repeatedly detecting changes in corticospinal output to FDI muscle in response to brief periods of motor training.
Kleim
Jeffrey A
JA
Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Hospital, 1601 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA. jkleim@ufl.edu
Kleim
Erin D
ED
Cramer
Steven C
SC
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009043:Motor Activity; D012016:Reference Values; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*