Motor cortex excitability changes following a lesion in the posterior columns of the cervical spinal cord.
We used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to explore if an impairment of central sensory function produced by an isolated lesion in the cervical posterior white columns would change motor cortex excitability. Cortical silent period duration was prolonged when compared with the control subjects, while central motor conduction and motor thresholds were in the normal limits. We first demonstrate that the involvement of the ascending proprioceptive sensory pathways in spinal cord diseases may have direct consequences on the activity of intracortical inhibitory interneuronal circuits. These findings further elucidate the role of afferent inputs in motor cortex reorganisation.
Nardone
Raffaele
R
Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Via Rossini 5, 39012 Meran/o (BZ), Italy. raffaele.nardone@asbmeran-o.it
Golaszewski
Stefan
S
Bergmann
Jürgen
J
Venturi
Alessandro
A
Prünster
Igor
I
Bratti
Arianna
A
Ladurner
Günther
G
Tezzon
Frediano
F
D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009470:Muscle Spindles / Q000502:physiology; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000175:diagnosis; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation