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Corticospinal excitability in the non-dominant hand is affected by BDNF genotype

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the functional state of corticospinal projections in the non-dominant hand according to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphisms. We investigated this in 34 healthy right-handed individuals (12 men, mean age 27.4 ± 3.4 years) who underwent two experimental sessions consisting of corticospinal excitability measurements with single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and hand motor function assessments with a sequential finger motor task of the non-dominant hand. Experimental sessions were separated by periods of at least 2 days to avoid carryover effects. Data were analyzed according to BDNF polymorphism (Val/Val vs. Val/Met vs. Met/Met group). Ten (29.4%), seventeen (50.0%), and seven (20.6%) participants were allocated to the Val/Val, Val/Met, and Met/Met groups, respectively. Motor thresholds to TMS did not differ among groups, but the amplitude of the motor-evoked potentials in the non-dominant hand induced by suprathreshold (120% of MT) TMS was significantly lower in the Met/Met group than in the other two groups (p < 0.05). Movement accuracy and reaction time in the sequential finger motor task showed no significant differences among groups. These results indicate that Met/Met BDNF homozygote status affects corticospinal excitability, and should be controlled for in studies of motor system function using brain stimulation. Our findings may have clinical implications regarding further investigation of the impact of BDNF genotype on the human motor system.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (NRF-2014R1A2A1A01005128, NRF-2016R1A2B4012054). Dr. Pascual-Leone was also supported in part by the Sidney R. Baer Jr. Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (R01HD069776, R21 NS082870, R01NS073601, R21 MH099196, R21 NS085491, R21 HD07616), and Harvard Catalyst|The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center (NCRR and the NCATS NIH, UL1 RR025758). The content of this study is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, and its affiliated academic health care centers, the National Institutes of Health, or the Sidney R. Baer Jr. Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Won Hyuk Chang, Jung Min Hwang, Kyeong Eun Uhm & Yun-Hee Kim

  2. Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Alvaro Pascual-Leone

  3. Department of Health Science and Technology, Department of Medical Device Management and Research, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Yun-Hee Kim

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  1. Won Hyuk Chang
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  4. Alvaro Pascual-Leone
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Correspondence to Yun-Hee Kim.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. A. Pascual-Leone serves on the scientific advisory boards for Nexstim, Neuronix, Starlab Neuroscience, Neuroelectrics, Axilum Robotics, Magstim Inc., and Neosync; and is listed as an inventor on several issued and pending patents on the real-time integration of transcranial magnetic stimulation with electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. The authors declare no competing interests.

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Chang, W.H., Hwang, J.M., Uhm, K.E. et al. Corticospinal excitability in the non-dominant hand is affected by BDNF genotype. Neurol Sci 38, 241–247 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2749-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2749-9

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