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Physiological Basis of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

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Abstract

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a noninvasive method of brain stimulation, has been used extensively to assess cortical reorganization in humans. In this review, we first discuss how TMS, was developed as a method of cortical stimulation, beginning with an examination of cortical electrical stimulation, which preceded TMS in animals and in humans. We describe the neuronal elements targeted by TMS and how these elements are evaluated by changes captured in epidural recording for the spinal cord and surface electromyographic recordings from limb muscles. Next, we identify the most frequent methodology used during TMS studies from coil designs (circle, figure of eight, double cone, and batwing coils) to the protocols in which each coil is most used to target different neuronal elements and the corticospinal pathway. We describe neurophysiological protocols using different patterns of TMS pulses, including paired-pulse protocols used to examine both intracortical and interhemispheric interactions within and between primary motor cortices. Finally, we highlight the use of TMS as a therapeutic technique for alleviating symptoms in individuals with motor disorder. Particularly, we focus on repetitive low- and high-frequency TMS, which are important tools to induce neuroplasticity to promote the recovery of function after injury.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Seton Hill University’s Physician Assistant Program, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA, USA

    Anne P. Caruso

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Monica A. Perez

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  1. Anne P. Caruso
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  2. Monica A. Perez
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Correspondence to Monica A. Perez .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care, Metropolitan Jewish Health Systems (MJHS), New York, New York, USA

    Helena Knotkova

  2. University of Lübeck, Department of Neurosurgery University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany

    Dirk Rasche

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Caruso, A.P., Perez, M.A. (2015). Physiological Basis of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. In: Knotkova, H., Rasche, D. (eds) Textbook of Neuromodulation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1408-1_8

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