Background and purpose: Using transcranial magnetic stimulation, we investigated short-interval intracortical inhibition and short-latency afferent inhibition in acute ischemic stroke.
Methods: We evaluated short-interval intracortical inhibition and short-latency afferent inhibition in the affected hemisphere and unaffected hemisphere in 16 patients and correlated electrophysiological parameters with outcome at 6 months.
Results: Affected hemisphere short-latency afferent inhibition was significantly reduced in patients, and short-latency afferent inhibition level correlated with functional outcome.
Conclusions: Reduced afferent inhibition in acute stroke correlates with long-term recovery.