Corticospinal Excitability Changes During Motor Preparation
Author Information
Author(s): Gijs van Elswijk, Willemijn D. Schot, Dick F. Stegeman, Sebastiaan Overeem
Primary Institution: Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
Hypothesis
Does the preparation of movement direction influence corticospinal excitability and TMS-evoked movements in humans?
Conclusion
The study found that corticospinal excitability changes during motor preparation, but TMS-evoked movements did not align with the precued direction.
Supporting Evidence
- Reaction times were 50 ms faster with an early precue compared to a late precue.
- MEPs from the thumb muscle were modulated by the direction of the precue.
- TMS-evoked movements became increasingly variable over time.
Takeaway
When you get ready to move your thumb, your brain gets ready too, but sometimes it doesn't move in the direction you expect.
Methodology
Sixteen healthy subjects performed thumb movements while TMS was applied to assess changes in movement direction and corticospinal excitability.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small sample size and specific demographic of participants.
Limitations
The study's findings may not generalize beyond the specific task and population studied.
Participant Demographics
16 healthy volunteers (11 female, 5 male) with a mean age of 24 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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