Activation and suppression of the trapezius muscle induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation

Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and silent periods (SPs) in the trapezius muscle induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were investigated in 15 healthy subjects. Stimuli were applied with a Novametrix Magnetic stimulator using a 14 cm circular coil 4 cm lateral to the vertex on the biauricular line. Surface electrodes were used for simultaneous bilateral electromyographic recordings of the trapezius. TMS invariably induced contralateral MEPs (latency 10.5 +/- 1.3 ms, mean +/- SD), with ipsilateral responses in 53% of the subjects (latency 11.1 +/- 2.5 ms). The mean duration of the SPs was approximately 90 ms on both sides. There were no significant side differences between any of the MEP or SP parameters. To study the influence of subcortical inhibition phenomena TMS induced responses were assessed following electrical mental nerve stimulation with interstimulus intervals (ISI) of 0-100 ms. MEP latencies significantly increased at ISI of 10-100 ms, whereas MEP amplitudes and SPs did not change. These findings may reflect a trigeminal induced exteroceptive suppression of trapezius muscle activity.