Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
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The cerebellum takes part in several motor functions through its influence on the motor cortex (M1). Here, we applied the theta burst stimulation (TBS) protocol, a novel form of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) over the lateral cerebellum. The aim of this study was to test whether TBS of the lateral cerebellum could be able to modulate the excitability of the contralateral M1 in healthy subjects. ⋯ Long-lasting modifications of these pathways could be useful to treat various pathological conditions characterized by an altered cortical excitability.
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Monitoring the effect of anesthetic drug on the neural system is an ongoing challenge for anesthetists. Several methods based on the electroencephalogram (EEG) have been proposed to estimate the depth of anesthesia (DoA); for instance, the Fourier-based time-frequency balanced spectral entropy as implemented in the Datex-Ohmeda M-Entropy Module. In this paper, a novel method based on Hilbert-Huang transform is proposed to calculate a spectral entropy value, called Hilbert-Huang spectral entropy and is applied to EEG recordings during sevoflurane anesthesia. The dose-response relation of Hilbert-Huang spectral entropy during sevoflurane anesthesia is presented. ⋯ Hilbert-Huang spectral entropy could be incorporated in the design of a new method to estimate the effect of anesthetic drugs on the EEG.
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Invasive stimulation of the spinal cord is used to treat a number of pathological conditions. Aiming to modulate human spinal cord function non-invasively, we evaluated whether transcutaneous direct current (DC) stimulation induces long-lasting changes in conduction along the sensory spinal pathways. ⋯ Our results support the use of transcutaneous DC stimulation as a novel tool for non-invasive spinal neuromodulation. Because the method is non-expensive and simple, it can be tested in patients with disorders presently treated with invasive procedures.
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To study the association between stimulus-induced periodic epileptiform discharges (PEDs), arousal EEG responses and limb jerking in a comatose patient with reversible viral encephalitis. ⋯ Consideration of the possibility that stimulus-induced PEDs are reflexive epileptic phenomena in some comatose ICU patients may rationalise further their acute management, including antiepileptic treatment.
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We examined how corticospinal excitability was affected by motor imagery of foot dorsiflexion and motor imagery of gait. ⋯ Imagery of a simple lower extremity movement evokes increases in corticospinal excitability. Furthermore, corticospinal effects of a simple motor imagery task can predict corticospinal effects of a more complex motor imagery task involving the same muscle.