Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
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Joint immobilization has previously been shown to modulate corticospinal excitability. The present study investigated changes in the excitability of distinct fractions of the corticospinal pathway by means of conditioning the H-reflex with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the primary motor cortex (Hcond). This method allows assessment of transmission in fast (monosynaptic) and slow(er) (polysynaptic) corticospinal pathways. ⋯ It is particularly interesting that fast corticospinal projections were unaffected as these are involved in controlling many, if not most, movements in humans.
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Skin wrinkling upon water immersion has been used as an indicator of limb nerve function for more than 80years. Until recently, routine use of the test has been hampered by a poor understanding of the physiology and lack of standardization. The process underlying stimulated skin wrinkling has been recently identified as dependent on digital vasoconstriction mediated via sympathetic nerve fibers. ⋯ A literature search identified 10 studies of sufficient quality for evaluating stimulated skin wrinkling as a diagnostic test of sympathetic under or over function. Seven studies provide level 1 or 2 evidence as a diagnostic test of small fiber neuropathy and three provide level 1 or 2 evidence for cystic fibrosis. There is reasonable evidence allowing the test to be employed as a simple and effective marker for small fiber neuropathy and cystic fibrosis.
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Comment Letter
Elucidating the meaning of dipole variability in MEG/MSI.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of high gamma electrocorticography and fMRI with electrocortical stimulation for localization of somatosensory and language cortex.
We investigated the contribution of electrocortical stimulation (ECS), induced high gamma electrocorticography (hgECoG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for the localization of somatosensory and language cortex. ⋯ HgECoG and fMRI make the cortical mapping procedure more flexible not only by identifying priority cortical sites for ECS or when ECS is not feasible, but also when ECS does not provide any result.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Shutting down sensorimotor interference unblocks the networks for stimulus processing: an SMR neurofeedback training study.
In the present study, we investigated how the electrical activity in the sensorimotor cortex contributes to improved cognitive processing capabilities and how SMR (sensorimotor rhythm, 12-15Hz) neurofeedback training modulates it. Previous evidence indicates that higher levels of SMR activity reduce sensorimotor interference and thereby promote cognitive processing. ⋯ The present findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying SMR neurofeedback training and cognitive processing and implicate that SMR neurofeedback might be an effective cognitive training tool.