title: Effect of high- and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on visuospatial neglect in patients with acute stroke: a double-blind, sham-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the therapeutic effect of low- and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in patients with acute stroke with visuospatial neglect.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a prospective, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. Data are presented from 27 patients (15 men, 12 women; mean age, 67.0y) randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of low-frequency (1Hz) rTMS over the nonlesioned PPC, high-frequency (10Hz) rTMS over the lesioned PPC, or sham stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  National university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (N=27) diagnosed with visuospatial neglect after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten sessions of rTMS over a 2-week period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The severity of visuospatial neglect was assessed pre- and posttreatment using the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test, line bisection test, star cancellation test, and Catherine Bergego Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When comparing the differences in the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test, line bisection test, star cancellation test, Catherine Bergego Scale, and Korean-Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) scores before and after treatment according to group, we found that changes in the line bisection test and K-MBI scores were significantly different between 3 groups. In the post hoc analysis, the improvement in the line bisection test score in the high-frequency rTMS group was statistically significant compared with that in the sham stimulation group (high vs sham P=.03, low vs sham P=.09, high vs low P=.58), and the improvements in the K-MBI scores of the 2 rTMS groups were statistically significant compared with those in the sham stimulation group (high vs sham P<.01, low vs sham P=.02, high vs low P=.75).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that high-frequency rTMS is effective in the treatment of visuospatial neglect in patients with acute stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Jeju National University Hospital, University of Jeju School of Medicine, Jeju.
authors.forename: Bo Ryun
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Dae-Yul
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sook Joung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000377:Agnosia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010296:Parietal Lobe; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013028:Space Perception; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D014796:Visual Perception