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Published on: July 18, 2014
A comparison of two methods in acquiring stimulus-response curves with transcranial magnetic stimulation
Alan J Pearce1, Ross A Clark, Dawson J Kidgell
1Cognitive and Exercise Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. alan.pearce@deakin.edu.au
Background:
The stimulus-response (S-R) curve is a well accepted constituent in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies. However, it has been suggested that parameters of the S-R curve differ when stimuli are provided in a "ramped" (measured steps from low to high intensity), or "random" fashion.
Hypothesis:
We hypothesized that there would be no difference in the parameters of the S-R curve between either methodologies.
Methods:
Using a randomised cross-over design, 10 healthy participants (29.6 ± 6.4 yrs, 3 f) completed "ramped" or "random" curves in biceps brachii (BB) and first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscles of both limbs. Curves were compared using mixed-factor ANOVA and correlated between limbs and methodologies.
Results:
No differences (P > 0.05) and high correlations (range 0.71-0.97; P < 0.001) were observed in BB and FDI data between curves.
Conclusions:
This study demonstrated that either methodology provides similar parameters of the S-R curve in healthy participants.
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