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Updated: Mar 6, 2026
Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum
Published on: February 15, 2015
Modulation of Cerebellar-Cortical Connections in Multiple System Atrophy Type C by Cerebellar Repetitive Transcranial
F Gokcem Yildiz1,2, Esen Saka2, Bulent Elibol2
1Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Objective:
This study aims at modulating the altered cerebellar-cortical interactions in patients with multiple system atrophy-cerebellar subtype (MSA-C) by using cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). We hypothesized that cerebellar modulation by low-frequency rTMS can resolve the abnormal cortical excitability in multiple system atrophy cerebellar subtype.
Materials And Methods:
We studied detailed effects of rTMS of the cerebellum on reaction time (RT) and short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) response in MSA-C group, Alzheimer Disease (AD) group, and a control group of healthy individuals. The RT and SAI responses were measured before and after 1 Hz cerebellar rTMS in all groups. The study was conducted in the neurophysiology laboratory in Hacettepe University Hospital.
Results:
Our results indicated that motor cortex disinhibition was predominant in patients with AD and MSA-C. In AD and control groups, there were no changes in SAI after rTMS. However, after application of rTMS over the cerebellum in MSA-C patients, the pathological disinhibition and RT results showed an improvement compared to their previous results.
Conclusion:
Our study highlights that cerebellar rTMS impairs abnormal cerebellar-cortical inhibitory connections in case of MSA-C.
