title: Neurophysiological features of motor cortex excitability and plasticity in Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Dementia: a TMS mapping study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate neurophysiological features of M1 excitability and plasticity in Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Dementia (SIVD), by means of a TMS mapping study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven SIVD and nine AD patients, along with nine control subjects were tested. The M1 excitability was studied by resting thresholds, area and volume of active cortical sites for forearm and hand's examined muscles. For M1 plasticity, coordinates of the hot-spot and the center of gravity (CoG) were evaluated. The correlation between the degree of hyperexcitability and the amount of M1 plastic rearrangement was also calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analysis of excitability measures demonstrated similarly enhanced cortical excitability in AD and SIVD patients with respect to controls. SIVD patients showed a medial and frontal shift of CoG from the hot-spot, not statistically different from that observed in AD. A significant direct correlation was seen between parameters related to cortical excitability and those related to cortical plasticity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest the existence of common compensatory mechanisms in different kind of dementing diseases supporting the idea that cortical hyperexcitability can promote cortical plasticity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study characterizes neurophysiological features of motor cortex excitability and plasticity in SIVD, providing new insights on the correlation between cortical excitability and plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrichella
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vollero
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy; Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Kuopio University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ponzo
authors.affiliation: Service of Medical Statistics and Information Technology, Fatebenefratelli Foundation for Health Research and Education, AFaR Division, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasqualetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Kuopio University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Määttä
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Kuopio University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mervaala
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Kuopio University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Mervi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Könönen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Campus Biomedico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bressi
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iannello
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Dept. Geriatrics, Neurosciences, Orthopaedics, Policlinic A. Gemelli, Catholic University, Rome, Italy; IRCCS S. Raffaele-Pisana, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo Maria
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy; Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Kuopio University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: f.ferreri@unicampus.it.
authors.forename: Florinda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferreri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Hyperexcitability; Mapping; Motor cortex; Plasticity; SIVD; TMS; VaD