Article
Clinical Neurology
Adam Meder, Inga Liepelt-Scarfone, Patricia Sulzer, Daniela Berg, Christoph Laske, Oliver Preische, Debora Desideri, Carl M. Zipser, Giacomo Salvadore, Kanaka Tatikola, Maarten Timmers, Ulf Ziemann
Summary: The study found that patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) exhibit corticospinal hyperexcitability, while there was no significant difference between Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and healthy controls. However, the standard PAS(LTP) protocol may not be suitable for assessing LTP-like motor cortical plasticity.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Julio C. Hernandez-Pavon, Arantzazu San Agustin, Max C. Wang, Domenica Veniero, Jose L. Pons
Summary: The objective of this article is to systematically review the efficacy of ccPAS in inducing plasticity in humans, with a focus on stimulation parameters and hypotheses of underlying neurophysiology. The review found that ccPAS can modulate brain connectivity depending on the interstimulus intervals, and it has the potential for basic research and potential clinical applications. This article highlights the importance of targeting multiple brain areas to study brain connectivity in the field of transcranial magnetic stimulation.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arantzazu San Agustin, Guillermo Asin-Prieto, Juan C. Moreno, Antonio Oliviero, Jose L. Pons
Summary: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can modulate cortico-spinal excitability and improve motor performance, as shown in a study using a customized video game. This finding highlights the potential of using TMS in neurorehabilitation strategies for complex movements.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Petyo Nikolov, Thomas J. Baumgarten, Shady S. Hassan, Sarah N. Meissner, Nur-Deniz Fuellenbach, Gerald Kircheis, Dieter Haessinger, Markus S. Joerdens, Markus Butz, Alfons Schnitzler, Stefan J. Groiss
Summary: The study revealed reduced synaptic plasticity of the primary motor cortex in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE), likely caused by disturbances in glutamatergic neurotransmission due to hyperammonemia in HE patients. This decrease in synaptic plasticity may provide a link between molecular level changes and early clinical symptoms of the disease.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Giacomo Guidali, Camilla Roncoroni, Nadia Bolognini
Summary: Research has reviewed recent advances in using non-invasive brain stimulation protocols, proposing a new classification scheme and describing their characteristics and application in studying and promoting brain plasticity. It is concluded that these protocols represent promising tools for studying human sensorimotor and crossmodal network plasticity.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mohd Faizal Mohd Zulkifly, Ornela Merkohitaj, Juergen Brockmoeller, Walter Paulus
Summary: The study investigated the impact of caffeine on brain plasticity and found that it increased motor cortex excitability in caffeine-naive subjects, enhanced PAS 25 effects, and affected alertness and motor evoked potentials under light deprivation. Time of day had no effect on tACS-induced plasticity in caffeine consumers.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Zhengchen Cai, Giovanni Pellegrino, Jean-Marc Lina, Habib Benali, Christophe Grova
Summary: This study investigates the effects of paired associative stimulation on cortical excitability and task-related hemodynamic responses, and finds a positive correlation between them. The findings have important implications for understanding the fundamental properties of cortical function and excitability.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Matteo Costanzo, Giorgio Leodori, Carolina Cutrona, Francesco Marchet, Maria Ilenia De Bartolo, Marco Mancuso, Daniele Belvisi, Antonella Conte, Alfredo Berardelli, Giovanni Fabbrini
Summary: This study used TMS-EEG technique to investigate the cortical correlates of PAS-induced plasticity. The results showed that PAS not only caused long-lasting facilitation of MEPs amplitude, but also led to a significant increase in TEPs P30 and P60 amplitude. There was no significant correlation between the changes in MEP amplitude and TEP components, but the combined changes in P30 and P60 component amplitudes significantly predicted MEP facilitation after PAS.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Giacomo Guidali, Michela Picardi, Chiara Gramegna, Nadia Bolognini
Summary: Mirror PAS (m-PAS) can induce a new, atypical pattern of cortico-spinal excitability by repeatedly pairing TMS pulses and visual stimuli depicting finger movements. This technique can drive new associations between action perception and motor programs, which can be measured both at a neurophysiological and behavioral level.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Nahian S. Chowdhury, Wei-Ju Chang, Samantha K. Millard, Patrick Skippen, Katarzyna Bilska, David A. Seminowicz, Siobhan M. Schabrun
Summary: Experimental pain alters corticomotor excitability, with reductions observed in both short and long durations of pain. The magnitude of reduction in corticomotor excitability is associated with pain severity, with greater reductions seen in higher pain severity. In healthy individuals, the suppression of corticomotor excitability may serve as a short-term beneficial strategy but has long-term consequences.
Article
Neurosciences
Naotsugu Kaneko, Atsushi Sasaki, Yohei Masugi, Kimitaka Nakazawa
Summary: Associative Stimulation (PAS) combining transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to modulate corticospinal excitability in lower-limb muscles. The study found that PAS could facilitate corticospinal excitability in the lower-leg and hamstring muscles under individual-ISI condition, with a spatial gradient of PAS-induced facilitation among lower-limb muscles.
Article
Physiology
Clara Pfenninger, Nathan Grosboillot, Guillaume Digonet, Thomas Lapole
Summary: This study aims to investigate the acute effects of prolonged local vibration on central nervous system excitability. The results suggest that vibration applied to the muscle, whether in a relaxed or contracted state, can decrease motoneuronal excitability and increase cortical excitability.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Pramudika Nirmani Kariyawasam, Shinya Suzuki, Susumu Yoshida
Summary: Bilateral motor training and artificial bilateral movements can modify corticospinal excitability, resulting in increased ipsilateral cortical excitability of the moving finger.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Vincenzo Rizzo, Carmen Terranova, Giovanni Raffa, Salvatore Massimiliano Cardali, Filippo Flavio Angileri, Giuseppina Marzano, Maria Catena Quattropani, Antonino Germano, Paolo Girlanda, Angelo Quartarone
Summary: Brain tumors can lead to abnormal cortical excitability in affected hemispheres, with decreased SICI, ICF, and SAI. Further research is needed to investigate the relationship between cortical excitability and motor impairment in these patients.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sangtae Ahn, Flavio Frohlich
Summary: This study provides causal evidence that the early TEP components reflect cortical reactivity to TMS, with the earliest component localized to the left M1, the following components mainly localized to the primary somatosensory cortex, and the later components largely localized to the auditory cortex. Transcranial direct current stimulation selectively modulated cortical and corticospinal excitability by modulating the pre-stimulus mu-rhythm oscillatory power.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Simone Rossi, Andrea Antal, Sven Bestmann, Marom Bikson, Carmen Brewer, Jurgen Brockmoller, Linda L. Carpenter, Massimo Cincotta, Robert Chen, Jeff D. Daskalakis, Vincenzo Di Lazzaro, Michael D. Fox, Mark S. George, Donald Gilbert, Vasilios K. Kimiskidis, Giacomo Koch, Risto J. Ilmoniemi, Jean Pascal Lefaucheur, Letizia Leocani, Sarah H. Lisanby, Carlo Miniussi, Frank Padberg, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Walter Paulus, Angel Peterchev, Angelo Quartarone, Alexander Rotenberg, John Rothwell, Paolo M. Rossini, Emiliano Santarnecchi, Mouhsin M. Shafi, Hartwig R. Siebner, Yoshikatzu Ugawa, Eric M. Wassermann, Abraham Zangen, Ulf Ziemann, Mark Hallett
Summary: This article is based on a consensus conference held in Siena, Italy in October 2018, aiming to update safety guidelines for the application of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). New emerging issues discussed include safety concerns with recently developed stimulation devices, novel scenarios of TMS applications, and ethical considerations regarding neuroenhancement.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Peter J. Fried, Emiliano Santarnecchi, Andrea Antal, David Bartres-Faz, Sven Bestmann, Linda L. Carpenter, Pablo Celnik, Dylan Edwards, Faranak Farzan, Shirley Fecteau, Mark S. George, Bin He, Yun-Hee Kim, Letizia Leocani, Sarah H. Lisanby, Colleen Loo, Bruce Luber, Michael A. Nitsche, Walter Paulus, Simone Rossi, Paolo M. Rossini, John Rothwell, Alexander T. Sack, Gregor Thut, Yoshikazu Ugawa, Ulf Ziemann, Mark Hallett, Alvaro Pascual-Leone
Summary: This article provides recommendations for training practitioners in the safe and effective administration of NIBS techniques, covering three different types of practitioners. It discusses the basic and advanced knowledge and skills that practitioners need to possess, as well as recommendations for curriculum components. The article also encourages licensing and governing bodies to implement these guidelines.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mohd Faizal Mohd Zulkifly, Ornela Merkohitaj, Juergen Brockmoeller, Walter Paulus
Summary: The study investigated the impact of caffeine on brain plasticity and found that it increased motor cortex excitability in caffeine-naive subjects, enhanced PAS 25 effects, and affected alertness and motor evoked potentials under light deprivation. Time of day had no effect on tACS-induced plasticity in caffeine consumers.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Y. Shorafa, I. Halawa, M. Hewitt, M. A. Nitsche, A. Antal, W. Paulus
Summary: This study explored the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes at rest and during activation of agonist and antagonist muscles. Results showed that 1 mA tACS increased MEP during rest but 2 mA did not. Activation of agonist muscles led to varied MEP changes with 2 mA stimulation, while antagonist activation under tACS showed MEP inhibition restored by tACS. The study suggests a dose-dependent relationship of tACS during agonist muscle activation and highlights the role of intracellular Ca2+ levels in tACS aftereffects.
JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Elina Zmeykina, Matthias Mittner, Walter Paulus, Zsolt Turi
Summary: This study investigated the role of electric field strength in producing aftereffects in resting state scalp electroencephalography through repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in humans. The results showed that stimulation with about 35 mV/mm induced aftereffects lasting up to two seconds, with arrhythmic protocol significantly reducing alpha power compared to the rhythmic protocol. No significant differences were found in long-term effects between rhythmic and arrhythmic stimulation, or between rhythmic and sham protocols. Weak arrhythmic rTMS led to short-lived alpha suppression during the interburst intervals.
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
Walter Paulus
JOURNAL OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Alexandra Korzeczek, Annika Primassin, Alexander Wolff von Gudenberg, Peter Dechent, Walter Paulus, Martin Sommer, Nicole E. Neef
Summary: Improved fluency in persons who stutter after one-year fluency-shaping therapy is accompanied by increased connectivity within the sensorimotor integration network, with strengthened connections between the left inferior frontal gyrus and key brain regions involved in speech production. This therapy-associated neural remediation is based on enhancing the command-to-execution pathway and auditory-to-motor coupling.
Article
Neurosciences
Islam Halawa, Katharina Reichert, Aman S. Aberra, Martin Sommer, Angel V. Peterchev, Walter Paulus
Summary: The study suggests that only higher intensities and wider pulses can produce excitatory aftereffects, which may be related to the depolarization time constant of neural elements. Stimulation of the motor cortex with different directions and pulse durations can lead to excitation effects.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ivan Chakalov, Andrea Antal, Simon S. Eckardt, Walter Paulus, Leif Saager, Konrad Meissner, Mathias Bahr, Onnen Moerer, Caspar Stephani
Summary: The study investigated the effect of TMS parameters on diaphragmatic motor-evoked potentials and found that biphasic pulses require less charge and time compared to monophasic pulses for inducing diMEPs, making them more suitable for stimulating the diaphragm.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Hartwig R. Siebner, Klaus Funke, Aman S. Aberra, Andrea Antal, Sven Bestmann, Robert Chen, Joseph Classen, Marco Davare, Vincenzo Di Lazzaro, Peter T. Fox, Mark Hallett, Anke N. Karabanov, Janine Kesselheim, Mikkel M. Beck, Giacomo Koch, David Liebetanz, Sabine Meunier, Carlo Miniussi, Walter Paulus, Angel Peterchev, Traian Popa, Michael C. Ridding, Axel Thielscher, Ulf Ziemann, John C. Rothwell, Yoshikazu Ugawa
Summary: Transcranial (electro)magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method used to induce neural activity in the human brain. TMS generates a time-varying electric field in the brain, affecting cortical neurons and their action potentials. TMS primarily targets the axonal terminals in the cortical gyri, with additional stimulation of myelinated axon bends in the juxtacortical white matter. The response to TMS influences both local neuronal populations and connected networks in the target area, as well as causing stimulation in the peripheral nervous system. The interpretation of TMS effects requires caution, and understanding its underlying mechanisms is crucial for its scientific and therapeutic advancements.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Nicole E. Neef, Alexandra Korzeczek, Annika Primassin, Alexander Wolff von Gudenberg, Peter Dechent, Christian Heiner Riedel, Walter Paulus, Martin Sommer
Summary: Persistent stuttering is a common neurodevelopmental speech disorder that is often associated with cortical alterations and dysfunctional neural pathways. Therapy may impact different brain structures related to speech motor performance and social-emotional burden in individuals with persistent stuttering.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mohd Faizal Mohd Zulkifly, Albert Lehr, Daniel van de Velden, Asad Khan, Niels K. Focke, Carsten H. Wolters, Walter Paulus
Summary: Interindividual anatomical differences in the human cortex can lead to variability in the response of transcranial electrical stimulation methods. This study aimed to explore the effects of personalized multi-electrode stimulation montages on the somatosensory cortex using 140 Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). The results showed a decrease in oscillatory mu-rhythms during and after tactile discrimination tasks, indicating the involvement of the somatosensory system. However, on a group level, tACS did not significantly modulate oscillatory power and evoked potential amplitudes.
Review
Neurosciences
Andrea Antal, Bruce Luber, Anna-Katharine Brem, Marom Bikson, Andre R. Brunoni, Roi Cohen Kadosh, Veljko Dubljevic, Shirley Fecteau, Florinda Ferreri, Agnes Floeel, Mark Hallett, Roy H. Hamilton, Christoph S. Herrmann, Michal Lavidor, Collen Loo, Caroline Lustenberger, Sergio Machado, Carlo Miniussi, Vera Moliadze, Michael A. Nitsche, Simone Rossi, Paolo M. Rossini, Emiliano Santarnecchi, Margitta Seeck, Gregor Thut, Zsolt Turi, Yoshikazu Ugawa, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian, Nicole Wenderoth, Anna Wexler, Ulf Ziemann, Walter Paulus
Summary: Attempts to enhance human memory and learning ability through brain stimulation methods have gained attention. The effectiveness of these methods, such as transcranial magnetic and electric stimulation, varies and depends on factors like equipment, operator skill, and parameters. Safety is ensured when following established protocols, but devices and protocols outside of these parameters cannot claim to be safe. Marketing of brain stimulation devices should adhere to ethical standards and not mislead users.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY PRACTICE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Walter Paulus
Summary: Fifty years ago, the study on delayed visual evoked response in optic neuritis opened a new era in neurophysiological diagnosis. The positive component P100, detected above the primary visual cortex at 100 ms using a chessboard stimulation introduced by Halliday et al., became the gold standard for detecting pathological remyelination of the optic nerve. However, the delay of this response still poses questions about the speed of information processing.
KLINISCHE NEUROPHYSIOLOGIE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Michael Bartl, Arne Krahn, Joachim Riggert, Walter Paulus
Summary: Needle electromyography (EMG) is an important part of electrodiagnosis (EDX) in neuromuscular disorders, with increased risk of bleeding events in patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation, even after discontinuation of treatment. Some cases of bleeding in patients may be related to genetic defects or unexpected anticoagulant responses.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY PRACTICE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jaakko Vallinoja, Timo Nurmi, Julia Jaatela, Vincent Wens, Mathieu Bourguignon, Helena Maenpaa, Harri Piitulainen
Summary: The study aimed to assess the effects of lesions related to spastic diplegic cerebral palsy on functional connectivity. Using multiple imaging modalities, the researchers found enhanced functional connectivity in the sensorimotor network of individuals with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, which was not correlated with hand coordination performance.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Francesca Ginatempo, Nicola Loi, John C. Rothwell, Franca Deriu
Summary: This study comprehensively investigated sensorimotor integration in the cranial-cervical muscles of healthy adults and found that the integration of sensory inputs with motor output is profoundly influenced by the type of sensory afferent involved and the functional role played by the target muscle.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2024)
