Experimental brain research. Experimentelle Hirnforschung. Expérimentation cérébrale
-
Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT) is considered an effective therapeutic option in cervical dystonia (CD). The pathophysiology of CD and other focal dystonias has not yet been fully explained. Results from neurophysiological and imaging studies suggest a significant involvement of the basal ganglia and thalamus, and functional abnormalities in premotor and primary sensorimotor cortical areas are considered a crucial factor in the development of focal dystonias. ⋯ The results of the study support observations that the BoNT effect may have a correlate in the central nervous system level, and this effect may not be limited to cortical and subcortical representations of the treated muscles. The results show that abnormalities in sensorimotor activation extend beyond circuits controlling the affected body parts in CD even the first BoNT injection is associated with changes in sensorimotor activation. The differences in activation between patients with CD after treatment and healthy controls at baseline were no longer present.