title: Interaction of motor training and intermittent theta burst stimulation in modulating motor cortical plasticity: influence of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism.
abstract: Cortical physiology in human motor cortex is influenced by behavioral motor training (MT) as well as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol such as intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS). This study aimed to test whether MT and iTBS can interact with each other to produce additive changes in motor cortical physiology. We hypothesized that potential interaction between MT and iTBS would be dependent on BDNF Val66Met polymorphism, which is known to affect neuroplasticity in the human motor cortex. Eighty two healthy volunteers were genotyped for BDNF polymorphism. Thirty subjects were assigned for MT alone, 23 for iTBS alone, and 29 for MT + iTBS paradigms. TMS indices for cortical excitability and motor map areas were measured prior to and after each paradigm. MT alone significantly increased the motor cortical excitability and expanded the motor map areas. The iTBS alone paradigm also enhanced excitability and increased the motor map areas to a slightly greater extent than MT alone. A combination of MT and iTBS resulted in the largest increases in the cortical excitability, and the representational motor map expansion of MT + iTBS was significantly greater than MT or iTBS alone only in Val/Val genotype. As a result, the additive interaction between MT and iTBS was highly dependent on BDNF Val66Met polymorphism. Our results may have clinical relevance in designing rehabilitative strategies that combine therapeutic cortical stimulation and physical exercise for patients with motor disabilities.
authors: Department of Neurology, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Mina
authors: M
authors: Lee
authors: Song E
authors: SE
authors: Kim
authors: Won Sup
authors: WS
authors: Kim
authors: Jungyeun
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Hye Kyung
authors: HK
authors: Yoo
authors: Kee-Duk
authors: KD
authors: Park
authors: Kyoung-Gyu
authors: KG
authors: Choi
authors: Seon-Yong
authors: SY
authors: Jeong
authors: Byung Gon
authors: BG
authors: Kim
authors: Hyang Woon
authors: HW
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human; D004247:DNA