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Updated: May 7, 2026
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Standardized Induction and Assessment of Long-term Potentiation-like Cortical Plasticity Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: November 7, 2025
Early visuomotor integration processes induce LTP/LTD-like plasticity in the human motor cortex
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|September 24, 2013
Summary
Visuomotor integration paired associative stimulation (PAS) induces long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD)-like plasticity in the primary motor cortex (M1). This plasticity is mediated by changes in premotor-to-motor connections, not primary visual cortex activity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Neuroplasticity
Background:
- The primary motor cortex (M1) is crucial for motor control.
- Understanding neuroplasticity in M1 is key to developing interventions for motor disorders.
- Visuomotor integration's role in M1 plasticity remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if visuomotor integration processes can induce long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD)-like plasticity in M1.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this visuomotor paired associative stimulation (V-PAS).
Main Methods:
- A novel V-PAS protocol combined visual evoked potentials (VEPs) from the primary visual area (V1) with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over M1 at specific interstimulus intervals (ISIs).
- Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and VEPs were measured before and after V-PAS.
- Various V-PAS frequencies, repetitive TMS (rTMS), and contralateral V1 activation were tested to clarify mechanisms.
Main Results:
- V-PAS induced M1 plasticity (LTP/LTD-like changes in MEPs) dependent on the ISI.
- 1-Hz rTMS decreased MEPs, while 0.25-Hz rTMS alone had no effect.
- 0.25-Hz V-PAS modulated MEPs based on ISI, and a shorter protocol showed no effect.
- Contralateral V-PAS inhibited MEPs.
- VEPs remained unchanged post-V-PAS, but premotor-to-M1 inhibitory connections decreased.
Conclusions:
- Visuomotor integration via V-PAS can effectively induce M1 plasticity.
- This plasticity is mediated by alterations in premotor-to-motor connectivity, not by changes in V1 activity.
- V-PAS offers a novel approach to modulate M1 neuroplasticity.
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