Paired associative electroacupuncture and transcranial magnetic stimulation induced plasticity in human primary motor
Meiqi Lai1, Jiaxin Xiao2, Jie Zhan1
1Acupuncture Research Team, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Objective:
Paired-associative stimulation (PAS) integrates transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with peripheral nerve stimulation to modulate the primary motor cortex (M1) in a non-invasive manner. Numerous studies highlight its impact on M1 excitability; however, the interplay between electroacupuncture (EA) and TMS on M1 excitability remains largely unexplored. So, we designed a new PAS protocol (namely EA-PAS, an integration of EA and TMS at M1) to investigate whether the EA-PAS has the same effects as the original PAS.
Methods:
To confirm the physiological effects of different EA-PAS protocols, we recorded the baseline MEP amplitude in 20 healthy subjects and conducted assessments at 7-time points after the EA-PAS intervention.
Results:
EA-PAS25 increased M1 excitability, while EA-PAS10 decreased it, similar to the original PAS, with effects localized to the target muscle. No significant changes were observed with EA or TMS alone. MEPs rose at ISIs of 17 ms, 25 ms, and 35 ms, but not at 50 ms. ISIs of 10 ms and 14 ms resulted in decreased MEPs.
Conclusions:
This study confirmed that EA-PAS can modulate the excitability of the human M1 and identified new temporal windows, indicating potential prospects for neurological rehabilitation.
Significance:
This provides a preliminary clinical basis for the future application of EA-PAS in neurological rehabilitation.
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