Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
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Short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) is a widely used paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measure to assess inhibition in human motor cortex. However, facilitatory processes may contaminate SICI under certain conditions. Here, we specifically address the contribution of short-interval intracortical facilitation (SICF). ⋯ SICF may contribute to apparently reduced SICI in patients with neurological or psychiatric disorders.
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Measurement of thermal pain thresholds is an essential part of quantitative sensory testing (QST). However, databases of QST show limitations due to large inter-individual variations including unreasonably low thresholds for thermal pain, lack of data on intra-individual variations over time and on the subjects' perception at threshold. This study sought to reduce inter-individual variations, investigated the reproducibility of measurements of thermal pain thresholds and included evaluation of thermally induced perceptions. ⋯ Further approaches are needed to reduce variability of thermal pain thresholds; however, good reproducibility of thermal pain thresholds and thermally induced perceptions warrants consideration of their use in larger longitudinal studies.
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Among the alternatives to drugs in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, neuromodulation techniques, including brain stimulation, have been used increasingly this past decade. Cortical targets are especially appealing, because they are easily accessible by noninvasive or invasive methods. Applicable techniques include repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial electrical stimulation using pulsed or direct current, and epidural cortical stimulation (ECS) with surgically implanted electrodes. ⋯ In addition, various parameters of stimulation (such as stimulation frequency, intensity, or electrode polarity) and the configuration of the induced electrical field greatly influence the nature of the recruited circuits, and therefore, the overall efficacy. Finally, clinical changes may be delayed and prolonged beyond the time of stimulation, complicating programming algorithms in the case of implanted stimulation device. All these features need to be taken into account when considering cortical stimulation as a method of treatment.
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Patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) suffer from continuous regional limb pain and from hyperesthesia to touch and pain. To better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the hyperesthesia of CRPS patients, we investigated their cortical processing of touch and acute pain. ⋯ Our results indicate changes of somatosensory processing at cortical level in CRPS.
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To investigate the effect of fatigue of postural and focal muscles on anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs). ⋯ The outcome of the study is important for better understanding of the effect of muscular fatigue on feedforward mechanisms of postural control with possible implications for the elderly and individuals with neurological disorders.