Association of short- and long-latency afferent inhibition with human behavior

Claudia V Turco; Stephen L Toepp; Stevie D Foglia; Patrick W Dans; Aimee J Nelson

doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2021.02.402

Association of short- and long-latency afferent inhibition with human behavior

Clin Neurophysiol. 2021 Jul;132(7):1462-1480. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.02.402. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Authors

Claudia V Turco¹, Stephen L Toepp², Stevie D Foglia³, Patrick W Dans⁴, Aimee J Nelson⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada. Electronic address: turcocv@mcmaster.ca.
² Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada. Electronic address: toeppsl@mcmaster.ca.
³ School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada. Electronic address: foglias@mcmaster.ca.
⁴ Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada. Electronic address: danspw@mcmaster.ca.
⁵ Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada. Electronic address: nelsonaj@mcmaster.ca.

PMID: 34030051
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.02.402

Abstract

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paired with nerve stimulation evokes short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) and long-latency afferent inhibition (LAI), which are non-invasive assessments of the excitability of the sensorimotor system. SAI and LAI are abnormally reduced in various special populations in comparison to healthy controls. However, the relationship between afferent inhibition and human behavior remains unclear. The purpose of this review is to survey the current literature and synthesize observations and patterns that affect the interpretation of SAI and LAI in the context of human behavior. We discuss human behaviour across the motor and cognitive domains, and in special and control populations. Further, we discuss future considerations for research in this field and the potential for clinical applications. By understanding how human behavior is mediated by changes in SAI and LAI, this can allow us to better understand the neurophysiological underpinnings of human motor control.

Keywords: Cognition; LAI; Motor learning; SAI; TMS; Transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Afferent Pathways / physiology
Behavior / physiology*
Evoked Potentials, Motor / physiology*
Humans
Motor Cortex / physiology*
Neural Inhibition / physiology*
Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods*