title: Serial treatments of primed low-frequency rTMS in stroke: characteristics of responders vs. nonresponders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study analyzed the characteristics of responders vs. nonresponders in people with stroke receiving a novel form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve hand function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve people with stroke received five treatments of 6-Hz primed low-frequency rTMS to the contralesional primary motor area. We compared demographic factors, clinical features, and the ipsilesional/contralesional volume ratio of selected brain regions in those who improved hand performance (N = 7) on the single-hand component of the Test Évaluant la performance des Membres supérieurs des Personnes Âgées (TEMPA) and those who showed no improvement (N = 5).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responders showed significantly greater baseline paretic hand function on the TEMPA, greater preservation volume of the ipsilesional posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), and lower scores (i.e., less depression) on the Beck Depression Inventory than nonresponders. There were no differences in age, sex, stroke duration, paretic side, stroke hemisphere, baseline resting motor threshold for ipsilesional primary motor area (M1), NIH Stroke Scale, Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer, Mini-Mental State Examination, or preservation volume of M1, primary somatosensory area, premotor cortex, or supplementary motor area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support that preserved PLIC volume is an important influential factor affecting responsiveness to rTMS.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Huiqiong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Bernadette T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Gillick
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods
keywords: posterior limb internal capsule; primary motor area; repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; stroke