Logo image
Back
Supraspinal inputs reduce corticomotor excitability during passive movement: Evidence from a pure sensory stroke
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Supraspinal inputs reduce corticomotor excitability during passive movement: Evidence from a pure sensory stroke

D.J. Edwards, F.L. Mastaglia, M.L. Byrnes, F. Fregni, A. Pascual-Leone and G.W. Thickbroom
Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, Vol.25(5-6), pp.527-533
2008
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3233/RNN-2007-00409
url
Link to Published Version *Subscription may be requiredView

Abstract

Corticomotor excitability is reduced during rhythmic passive movement compared to rest, but it is not known whether the mechanism is purely segmental or includes a supraspinal pathway. To determine how interruption of sensory projections at a supraspinal level affects corticomotor excitability during passive movement, we measured the amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP) during 1 Hz cyclic index finger movements in a patient with a brainstem and thalamus lesion that resulted in a pure sensory stroke. Measurements of MEP amplitude and proprioception were made 14 and 64 days post-stroke. In the first study, when subjective position sense was reduced for the index finger, MEP amplitude was significantly increased during passive movement compared to rest (4.6 ± 0.2 SEM mV vs. 4.0 ± 0.2 mV; p=0.0281). However in the second study, when position sense had returned to normal, MEP amplitude was significantly reduced during movement compared to rest (6.2 ± 0.3 mV vs. 6.6 ± 0.1 mV; p=0.0224). These observations provide evidence that supraspinal sensory pathways are involved in reducing corticomotor excitability during rhythmic passive movement.

Details

Metrics

29 Record Views
Logo image