Changes in spinal excitability after PAS

J Neurophysiol. 2007 Apr;97(4):3131-5. doi: 10.1152/jn.01086.2006. Epub 2007 Jan 24.

Abstract

Repetitive pairing of a peripheral stimulation with a magnetic transcortical stimulation (PAS) is widely used to induce plastic changes in the human motor cortex noninvasively. Based on the contrast between PAS-induced increase of corticospinal excitability and absence of PAS-induced increase of the spinal F wave size, it has been generally accepted that PAS-induced plasticity is cortical in origin. Here, instead of F waves, we used H reflex recruitment curves to assess spinal excitability, and we demonstrate that PAS induces parallel changes in cortical and spinal excitability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor / physiology
  • H-Reflex / physiology
  • Hand / innervation
  • Hand / physiology
  • Humans
  • Median Nerve / physiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal / innervation
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Recruitment, Neurophysiological / physiology
  • Spine / physiology*
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*
  • Wrist / innervation
  • Wrist / physiology