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Transcranial near-infrared stimulation may increase cortical excitability recorded in humans
Penghui Song1, Tao Han2, Hua Lin2
1Central Laboratory, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 45 Changchun Street, 100053, Beijing, China; Beijing Geriatric Medical Research Center, 45 Changchun Street, 100053, Beijing, China; Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 45 Changchun Street, 100053, Beijing, China.
Objective:
Transcranial near-infrared stimulation (tNIRS) can penetrate the scalp and skull and can reach the superficial layers of the cerebral cortex. In this study, we evaluated whether an 820-nm tNIRS can modulate the excitability of the primary motor cortex (M1) as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Methods:
tNIRS was applied at a wavelength of 820-nm for 4 min over the representation of the right first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI) in the left M1, in 12 healthy right-handed participants. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from the FDI elicited by single-pulse TMS were measured at baseline and up to 30 min after the tNIRS.
Results:
The ΔMEPs percentage was evaluated, and a significant increase in amplitude was observed 10-20 min post-stimulation compared to that in sham.
Conclusion:
This study provides evidence that an 820-nm tNIRS induces transitory increase in the excitability of the stimulated cortex.
