Measured Motor Evoked Potentials Research Articles

Motorcortical Excitability and Synaptic Plasticity Is Enhanced in Professional Musicians

Musicians not only have extraordinary motor and sensory skills, but they also have an increased ability to learn new tasks compared with non-musicians. We examined how these features are expressed in neurophysiological parameters of excitability and plasticity in the motor system by comparing the results of 11 professional musicians and 8 age-matched non-musicians. Parameters of motor excitability were assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to measure motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) together with recruitment of corticospinal projections [input-output curve (IOcurve)] and of short-latency intracortical inhibition (SICIcurve). Plasticity, here defined as change of synaptic effectiveness, was tested by measuring MEPs and IOcurves after paired associative stimulation (PAS), which consists of an electric median nerve stimulus repeatedly paired (200 times at 0.25 Hz) with a TMS pulse over the hand motor area. Using an interstimulus interval of 25 ms (PAS25) or 10 ms (PAS10), this leads to long-term potentiation- or long-term depression-like plasticity, respectively. Musicians showed steeper recruitment of MEPs and SICI (IOcurve and SICIcurve). Additionally, PAS25 increased and PAS10 decreased the MEP amplitudes and the slope of the IOcurves significantly more in musicians than in non-musicians. This is consistent with a wider modification range of synaptic plasticity in musicians. Together with the steeper recruitment of corticospinal excitatory and intracortical inhibitory projections, this suggests that they regulate plasticity and excitability with a higher gain than normal. Because some of these changes depend on age at which instrumental playing commenced and on practice intensity, they may reflect an increase in number and modifiability of synapses within the motor area caused by long-term musical practice.

Stimulus waveform influences the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

Background Optimising stimulus parameters is important in maximising the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in treatment applications. RTMS over motor cortex has been reported as more effective in producing corticospinal inhibition when a monophasic rather than a biphasic stimulus waveform is used. However, non-optimal coil orientation and high intensities of monophasic rTMS may have influenced previous results. Methods In eight healthy subjects, we measured motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in a hand muscle after monophasic and biphasic rTMS (1 Hz for 15 min) over the motor cortex with the coil always in the optimal orientation. MEPs were evoked by both monophasic and biphasic stimuli. Results MEPs were initially significantly reduced after monophasic but not biphasic rTMS. However, a late reduction was seen after biphasic rTMS. Limitations These motor cortical findings may not be directly applicable to prefrontal rTMS. Conclusions This study confirms that low frequency rTMS with monophasic pulses produces more corticospinal inhibition than with biphasic pulses, even when the direction of current and intensity are as well-matched as possible.

Three-Way Bipolar Forceps: A Novel Bipolar Coagulator System for Nerve Stimulation and Detection of Nerve Potentials

Preoperative characterization of brain anatomy by magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative functional characterization of the nervous system is essential in patients undergoing radical resection of brain tumors. A novel integrated system was developed combining conventional bipolar forceps with an electric stimulator and an oscilloscope. The system consists of a mechanical switching circuit allowing a wide range of electric characteristics and was designed to perform intraoperative electrophysiological studies, including functional mapping and measurements of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). This system achieved a significant reduction in exchange time (from 3.63+/-1.00 sec to 1.12+/-0.42 sec) between coagulation and stimulation, and reproducible measurement of MEPs from porcine limbs by cortical stimulation using the bipolar forceps. Functional mapping under awake craniotomy was carried out by cortical stimulation in patients with glioblastoma, and median nerve SEPs with high signal-to-noise ratio were elicited from the bipolar forceps on the sensory cortex of patients under general anesthesia. This integrated system is technically easy to operate and allows functional monitoring of an area that would otherwise be difficult to access using conventional methods. This three-way bipolar forceps system may reduce postoperative complications in patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures.

Do alternate methods of analysing motor evoked potentials give comparable results?

This study assessed the reliability of alternate methods of analysis of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). We recorded two sets of MEPs (Time 1 and Time 2) at the optimal scalp sites for both the right first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) at two different stimulation intensities in 10 healthy subjects. MEP magnitude was determined in each of the following three ways: the mean peak-to-peak amplitude and area of the 20 individual responses; the amplitude and area of the ensemble averaged waveform; and the amplitude and area of the maximal response. There was no significant difference in amplitude or area for either muscle using any of the three methods between Time 1 and 2. However, the ensemble average (area and amplitude) was significantly smaller that the mean MEP, and the maximal MEP amplitude was significantly larger. Intraclass correlation analysis demonstrated that reliability of MEP measures over time was poor regardless of method. Reliability was similar between methods for FDI, but FCU had lower reliability values for the mean and ensemble average methods than the maximal method.

Reliability of the motor evoked potentials elicited through magnetic stimulation at three sites

Background Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) obtained from magnetic stimulation allow the measurement of the excitability of motor nerve cells. Although this technique is becoming widely used, its reliability has yet to be established. Objective To determine the reliability of MEPs and evaluate their stability. Design Subjects received magnetic stimulation at 3 different sites: cranial, cervical, and peripheral. Three stimulations were given at each site. Stimulations were given under 4 conditions: eyes open or closed and with or without controlled mental activity. Setting The study was performed in a research laboratory setting. Participants Nine healthy subjects (mean age = 21 years ± 0.9), asymptomatic of any neural or musculoskeletal dysfunctions. Main outcome measures Normalized peak-to-peak amplitude of MEPs at the opponens pollicis muscle. Results Intraclass correlations were high for all conditions ( R > 0.90). The amplitude of the MEPs elicited from the transcranial site during the controlled mental activity condition was increased by 26.6% ( P = .017). No other significant differences ( P > .05) were obtained among the other conditions. Conclusion Intraclass correlation results reveal that MEP measurements are highly reliable in a controlled environment. The increase of MEPs during the controlled mental activity condition could be attributed to an elevation of neural activity of different nonmotor areas of the brain increasing corticospinal excitability.

Priming Stimulation Enhances the Depressant Effect of Low-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Low-frequency (1 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can depress the excitability of the cortex locally and has been proposed for the treatment of disorders such as schizophrenia and epilepsy. Some have speculated that the depressant effect is related to long-term depression (LTD) of cortical synapses. Because in vitro LTD can be enhanced by pretreatment of synapses with higher-frequency stimulation, we hypothesized that if rTMS depression had mechanisms in common with LTD, higher-frequency priming would increase it also. In 25 healthy volunteers in two experiments, we measured motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) from TMS of the motor cortex to define the baseline response. Subthreshold rTMS (6 Hz, fixed rate or frequency modulated) was used to prime the motor cortex, followed by suprathreshold 1 Hz stimulation for 10 min at just above the MEP threshold. Over the next 60 min, we recorded MEPs every 10 sec and found significant increases in the amount of cortical depression with both types of 6 Hz priming rTMS relative to sham. The MEP depression from 6 Hz-primed 1 Hz rTMS showed no evidence of decay after 60 min. Pretreatment with 6 Hz primes both 1 Hz rTMS depression and LTD. Although not conclusive evidence, this strengthens the case for overlapping mechanisms and suggests a potent new technique for enhancing low-frequency rTMS depression that may have experimental and clinical applications.

Cortical excitability changes induced by deafferentation of the contralateral hemisphere.

Short-term deprivation of sensory input by ischaemic nerve block (INB) leads to functional reorganization in the deafferented motor cortex. Here, we show that INB also elicits functional changes in homotopic regions of the cortex contralateral to the deafferented one. We measured motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in small hand and biceps brachii muscles before, during and after INB of the right hand. INB increased excitability of the cortical representation of (i) the intact hand and (ii) body parts proximal to the deafferented hand (upper arm), in the absence of excitability changes in other body part representations such as thorax or leg muscles. This effect persisted throughout the entire period of deafferentation and returned to baseline values afterward. Motor responses to brainstem electrical stimulation remained unchanged during INB, indicating that the effect is probably of cortical origin. Lorazepam, a GABA(A) receptor agonist, blocked this increased excitability. Interhemispheric inhibition between hand muscles decreased during INB. After chronic deafferentation in amputees, MEP amplitudes and motor output curves in small hand muscles were depressed and motor thresholds were elevated compared with aged-matched controls. These results indicate that acute hand deafferentation can elicit a focal increase in excitability in the hand motor representation contralateral to the deafferented cortex that is influenced by transcallosal interactions and GABAergic transmission, and is balanced in the setting of chronic deafferentation.

Motor nervous pathway function is impaired after treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a study with motor evoked potentials.

The objective was to evaluate whether motor nervous pathways are affected when patients are treated for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Thirty-two children with ALL were studied at the end of treatment by means of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by magnetic stimulation (MS) transcranially and peripherally and underwent a detailed neurological examination. Thirty-two healthy children matched with them for age, sex, and height served as a control group. The latencies of the MEPs were significantly prolonged along the entire motor nervous pathway in the patients with ALL compared with the healthy controls, indicating demyelination in the thick motor fibres. The MEP amplitudes of the distal extremities elicited by stimulation at the brachial plexus and LV spinal level were significantly lowered in the patients treated for ALL, also indicating anatomical or functional loss of descending motor fibres and/or muscle fibres. The MEP amplitudes elicited by cortical MS showed wider variation and no clear abnormalities were found. Neurological signs and symptoms were common after treatment: 41% of the patients had depressed deep tendon reflexes, 31% had fine motor difficulties and 63% gross motor difficulties, and 34% had dysdiadochokinesia. The conduction delay within the peripheral nerve was related to the post-therapeutic interval after administration of vincristine and the lesions within the CNS to the number of injections of intrathecal methotrexate. The present results show adverse effects of the ALL treatment on the entire motor nervous pathways. In our experience, the measurement of MEPs by MS provides an objective, painless, and practical tool for assessing the treatment-related neurotoxicity in both the CNS and the peripheral nerves. These disturbances in the motor nervous pathways at the end of treatment raise the question of the long-term effects of ALL treatment on the motor nerve tracts, and have led us to employ MEPs to study these effects in long-term survivors of ALL.

Crossed reduction of human motor cortex excitability by 1-Hz transcranial magnetic stimulation

Electrophysiological studies have shown that 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the primary motor area (M1) can produce a local decrease in excitability. Functional imaging data suggest that this change may be bilateral. In normal subjects, we measured motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude at a series of stimulation intensities in the contralateral M1 before and after 15 min of active or sham rTMS at just above the MEP threshold. The slope of the curve relating MEP amplitude and stimulation intensity was decreased in the unstimulated hemisphere by active but not sham rTMS. This demonstrates that rTMS can condition cortical excitability at a distance of one or more synapses and suggest that decreased excitability to TMS is a correlate of decreased blood flow and metabolism.

Motor-Evoked Potentials in Patients with Cervical Spine Disorders

Measurements of motor-evoked potentials by means of fractionated magnetic stimulation of motor pathways to the upper limbs was performed as part of the clinical assessment in 268 patients with cervical spine disorders. Seventy-two percent of the 127 patients with degenerative changes of the cervical spine, 67% of the 55 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 57% of the 51 patients with trauma of the cervical spine showed a pathologic delay of central motor latency (CML). The data suggest that this method has a high sensitivity and therefore is recommended in the diagnosis of cervical spine disorders in patients with suspected compression of neural structures.