Cutaneous silent periods
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Updated: Aug 31, 2026

Measuring Contralateral Silent Period Induced by Single-Pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Investigate M1 Corticospinal Inhibition
Published on: August 23, 2022
1EMG Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, Room 5C101, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. floeterm@ninds.nih.gov
Abstract:
The cutaneous silent period (CSP) refers to the brief interruption in voluntary contraction that follows strong electrical stimulation of a cutaneous nerve. The CSP is a protective reflex that is mediated by spinal inhibitory circuits and is reinforced in part by parallel modulation of the motor cortex. This review summarizes current understanding of the afferents and circuits that are responsible for producing CSPs; the utility of the CSP for investigating peripheral and central nervous system disorders; and the relationship between the CSP, other cutaneous reflexes, and peripheral silent periods.
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