title: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to hemispatial neglect in patients after stroke: an open-label pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether multiple sessions of inhibitory low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the left parietal area can improve hemispatial neglect after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open-label design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven consecutive patients with hemispatial neglect after right hemispheric stroke were compared with 7 retrospectively recruited control patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven patients received a session of 1 Hz rTMS to the left parietal area immediately prior to occupational therapy for 10 days. Seven control patients received only behavioural therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline values of the line bisection test and the Albert test were comparable in the two groups. The stimulation group showed a greater improvement in the line bisection test than did the control group. However, no differences were found between the two groups according to the Albert test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this pilot study, low-frequency rTMS application to the non-affected left parietal area was found to be safe and to improve line bisection test, which suggests that non-invasive cortical stimulation has a potential role as an adjuvant strategy during cognitive rehabilitation training in patients with hemispatial neglect. A prospective randomized, sham-controlled study is required to determine the beneficial role of non-invasive cortical stimulation on hemispatial neglect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 166 Gumi-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463-707, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Youb
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Eun Kyoung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Nam-Jong
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Paik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome