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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
09:52
Measuring and Manipulating Functionally Specific Neural Pathways in the Human Motor System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: February 23, 2020
Associative cortico-cortical plasticity may affect ipsilateral finger opposition movements
1Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology, University of Messina, Italy.
Behavioural Brain Research
|September 7, 2010
Summary
Cortico-cortical paired associative stimulation (cc-PAS) modulates brain activity and influences fine hand movements. This non-invasive brain stimulation technique shows potential for future rehabilitation applications.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Brain Stimulation
Background:
- Cortico-cortical paired associative stimulation (cc-PAS) has been shown to modulate interhemispheric inhibition (IHI).
- Understanding the after-effects of cc-PAS on fine motor skills is crucial for exploring its therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the after-effects of cc-PAS on fine hand movements.
- To explore how cc-PAS influences motor performance parameters like touch duration and inter-tapping intervals.
Main Methods:
- Ten healthy participants underwent cc-PAS targeting the primary motor hand areas (M1(HAND)) of both hemispheres.
- Performance of repetitive finger opposition movements was assessed using a sensor-engineered glove, measuring Touch Duration (TD), Inter Tapping Interval (ITI), and Number of Errors (NE).
Main Results:
- cc-PAS confirmed to attenuate interhemispheric inhibition (IHI).
- Both left-to-right and right-to-left cc-PAS influenced TD and ITI in simple finger opposition movements.
- The observed effects on motor performance were opposite for the left and right hands.
Conclusions:
- cc-PAS induces associative plasticity in targeted cortical areas, impacting motor hand performance.
- These findings suggest cc-PAS could be a valuable tool for future rehabilitative strategies targeting motor functions.
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