title: Motor cortex changes in spinal cord injury: a TMS study.
abstract: Using paired pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paradigms, we studied cortical excitability in a patient with spinal cord lesion. During posterior tibial nerve stimulation, the contextual flexion of hand fingers contralateral to the stimulated lower limb had suggested a change in motor cortex excitability. Results showed a decrease in the activity of motor cortex inhibitory circuits. This could suggest that in spinal cord injury, just as in stroke and peripheral deafferentation, a disinhibition of latent synapses within the motor cortex and the rewriting of a new motor map can occur.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione "Don Carlo Gnocchi", Rovato (Brescia), Italy. eleonorasaturno@gmail.com
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saturno
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonato
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miniussi
authors.forename: Vincenzodi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lazzaro
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Callea