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Reduced cortical excitability in depression. Impaired post-exercise motor facilitation with transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Authors :
Shajahan PM
Glabus MF
Gooding PA
Shah PJ
Ebmeier KP
Source :
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science [Br J Psychiatry] 1999 May; Vol. 174, pp. 449-54.
Publication Year :
1999

Abstract

Background: In healthy controls, preactivation of muscles by exercise results in enhanced motor-evoked potential (MEP) responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).<br />Aims: We tested the hypothesis that medicated, depressed patients would show reduced post-exercise MEP facilitation compared with controls.<br />Method: Ten patients with DSM-IV depression (two male, eight female) and ten controls (three male, seven female) participated. MEPs were elicited at rest, then after exercising the contralateral abductor pollicis brevis muscle, using TMS of the primary motor cortex.<br />Results: The mean MEP amplitude recorded after exercise (expressed as a percentage of baseline) was 210% in controls and 130% in patients. There was a significant difference in post-exercise MEP between patients and controls (P = 0.03).<br />Conclusions: Post-exercise MEP facilitation was demonstrated in controls but not in patients. This supports the hypothesis that the modulation of cortical excitability may be impaired in depression.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0007-1250
Volume :
174
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
10616615
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.174.5.449