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Updated: Nov 21, 2025
Measuring and Manipulating Functionally Specific Neural Pathways in the Human Motor System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: February 23, 2020
Motor dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment as tested by kinematic analysis and transcranial magnetic stimulation
Donato Colella1, Andrea Guerra2, Giulia Paparella2
1Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Objective:
Previous studies have demonstrated voluntary movement alterations as well as motor cortex excitability and plasticity changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). To investigate the pathophysiology of movement abnormalities in MCI, we tested possible relationships between movement abnormalities and primary motor cortex alterations in patients.
Methods:
Fourteen amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients and 16 healthy controls were studied. Cognitive assessment was performed using clinical scales. Finger tapping was recorded by a motion analysis system. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to test the input/output curve of motor evoked potentials, intracortical inhibition, and short-latency afferent inhibition. Primary motor cortex plasticity was probed by theta burst stimulation. We investigated correlations between movement abnormalities, clinical scores, and cortical neurophysiological parameters.
Results:
MCI patients showed less rhythmic movement but no other movement abnormalities. Cortical excitability measures were normal in patients, whereas plasticity was reduced. Movement rhythm abnormalities correlated with frontal dysfunction scores.
Conclusion:
Our study in MCI patients demonstrated abnormal voluntary movement and plasticity changes, with no correlation between the two. Altered rhythm correlated with frontal dysfunction.
Significance:
Our results contribute to the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of motor impairment in MCI.
Insights
Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) exhibit reduced motor cortex plasticity and abnormal movement rhythm. This rhythm alteration correlates with frontal brain dysfunction, offering insights into motor impairments in MCI.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is associated with motor cortex changes.
- Understanding motor abnormalities in MCI is crucial for early diagnosis and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between movement abnormalities and primary motor cortex alterations in MCI patients.
- To explore the pathophysiology of motor deficits in mild cognitive impairment.
Main Methods:
- Compared 14 amnestic MCI patients with 16 healthy controls.
- Assessed cognitive function, recorded finger tapping using motion analysis, and measured motor cortex excitability and plasticity via transcranial magnetic stimulation.
- Correlated movement, clinical, and neurophysiological data.
Main Results:
- MCI patients displayed less rhythmic finger tapping but normal cortical excitability.
- Reduced primary motor cortex plasticity was observed in MCI patients.
- Abnormal movement rhythm correlated with frontal dysfunction scores.
Conclusions:
- MCI is linked to abnormal voluntary movement and altered motor cortex plasticity, though these are not directly correlated.
- Movement rhythm disturbances in MCI are associated with frontal lobe dysfunction.
