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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
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Measuring and Manipulating Functionally Specific Neural Pathways in the Human Motor System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: February 23, 2020
Movement-related cortical stimulation can induce human motor plasticity
Mohamed Nasreldin Thabit1, Yoshino Ueki, Satoko Koganemaru
1Human Brain Research Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Summary
This study introduces a new movement-related cortical stimulation (MRCS) protocol. This method uses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) timed with natural movement to induce motor plasticity, showing potential clinical applications.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Neuroplasticity
Background:
- Paired associative stimulation (PAS) using peripheral nerve stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can induce motor plasticity.
- Previous studies relied on artificial stimuli, leaving the potential of natural motor activity paired with TMS for plasticity induction unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether repetitive natural primary motor cortex (M1) activity associated with TMS can induce motor plasticity.
- To develop and validate a novel movement-related cortical stimulation (MRCS) protocol for this purpose.
Main Methods:
- Developed a movement-related cortical stimulation (MRCS) protocol involving TMS timed with voluntary movement reaction time (RT) in the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle.
- Applied MRCS (0.2 Hz, 240 pairs) with TMS delivered 50 ms before RT (MRCS(-50)) or 100 ms after RT (MRCS(+100)).
- Assessed motor function, including motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitude and F-wave, before and after intervention in 17 healthy volunteers.
Main Results:
- MRCS(-50) significantly increased APB MEP amplitude and shortened RT, indicating timing-dependent plasticity.
- MRCS(+100) resulted in decreased MEP amplitude.
- No changes in spinal excitability (F-wave) were observed, suggesting supraspinal plasticity.
Conclusions:
- The novel MRCS protocol can induce timing-dependent associative motor plasticity by pairing natural motor activity with TMS.
- This approach demonstrates potential for clinical applications in modulating motor function.
