Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
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Aim of this study was to investigate whether paired pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (ppTMS) applied over the medial frontal cortex (MFC) affects acute Adelta fiber-mediated electrically induced pain. In addition, we investigated whether this effect depends on the time course of the stimulation, on the noxious stimulus intensity or on the ppTMS intensity. ⋯ Brain areas involved in cognitive and emotional adaptation to pain can be used, in place of primary motor areas, as cortical targets in TMS trials of experimental or ongoing pain.
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TMS techniques have provided controversial information on motor cortical function in Huntington's disease (HD). We investigated the excitability of motor cortex in patients with HD using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). ⋯ We suggest that depressed excitability of the motor cortex in patients with HD reflects a disease-related weakening of cortical facilitatory mechanisms.
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To study interobserver variation in the interpretation of median nerve SSEPs in patients with anoxic-ischaemic coma. ⋯ Because of its moderate interobserver agreement, great care has to be given to accurate recording and interpretation of SSEPs before using the recordings for non-treatment decisions.
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Previous axonal excitability studies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have suggested that impaired potassium channel function could be responsible for the generation of fasciculations, but the ectopic activity arises predominantly from the motor nerve terminals. This study tested the hypothesis that dysfunction of potassium channels is more pronounced in the more distal parts of axons. ⋯ Excitability testing at the motor point provides additional information about the pathophysiology of ALS.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Transcranial magnetic stimulation for pain control. Double-blind study of different frequencies against placebo, and correlation with motor cortex stimulation efficacy.
To assess, using a double-blind procedure, the pain-relieving effects of rTMS against placebo, and their predictive value regarding the efficacy of implanted motor cortex stimulation (MCS). ⋯ Defining rTMS parameters is a crucial step before proposing rTMS as predictive test of SCM efficacy in clinical practice.