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Reduced motor cortex plasticity following inhibitory rTMS in older adults
- Source :
-
Clinical Neurophysiology . Mar2010, Vol. 121 Issue 3, p441-447. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Abstract: Objective: Ageing is accompanied by diminished practice-dependent plasticity. We investigated the effect of age on another plasticity inducing paradigm, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Methods: Healthy young (n =15; 25±4years) and old (n =15; 67±5years) adults participated in two experiments. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were measured in the target muscle (first dorsal interosseus, FDI) and a remote muscle (abductor digiti minimi) during a set of single stimuli. Subjects then received real or sham inhibitory rTMS (intermittent subthreshold trains of 6Hz stimulation for 10min). MEPs were measured for 30min after rTMS. Results: In young adults, MEPs in the target FDI muscle were ∼15% smaller in the real rTMS experiment than in the sham rTMS experiment (P <0.026). In old adults, FDI MEP size did not differ between experiments. Conclusions: Advancing age is associated with reduced efficacy of inhibitory rTMS. Significance: This work has important implications for the potential therapeutic use of rTMS in stroke and neurological disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13882457
- Volume :
- 121
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Clinical Neurophysiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 47957955
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2009.11.089