The Effect of Movement Phase on the Contralaterally Coordinated Paired Associative Stimulation-Induced Excitability

Paired associative stimulation (PAS) has been shown to increase corticospinal excitability (CSE) providing a promising adjuvant therapeutic approach for stroke. Combining PAS with movement of the stimulated limb may further increase enhancement of CSE, however, individuals with moderate to severe stroke may not be able to engage in the necessary repetitive voluntary movements of the paretic limb. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of contralaterally coordinated PAS (ccPAS) applied to the resting hand extensors during fast extension of the contralateral hand. A potential dependency of CSE modulation on the phase of the movement of the opposite hand was evaluated. Eleven participants each completed three session: PAS applied to the resting right hand during the preparation phase of the extension of the contralateral (left) hand; PAS applied during the execution phase of the left hand extension; and PAS applied with both hands at rest. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were evoked from the right extensor digitorum communis (EDC) and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) muscles prior and immediately after each session. PAS delivered during the muscle contraction of the left hand and PAS delivered at rest both increased the MEP amplitude in the right EDC. PAS delivered before the left hand movement onset led to a decrease in the MEP amplitude measured in the right EDC muscle. We conclude that PAS induced bidirectional changes in the amplitude of MEPs that were dependent on the phase of the movement of the opposite hand.