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Intracortical Circuits and Their Interactions in Human Primary Motor Cortex

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Cortical Connectivity

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Abstract

The human primary motor cortex (M1) works in association with other motor-related brain areas in the planning and execution of movements. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a widely used noninvasive brain stimulation technique and TMS studies have contributed significantly to our knowledge of motor cortical physiology. Single-pulse TMS activates the facilitatory interneurons in M1 and produces descending corticospinal volleys in the spinal cord, resulting in motor evoked potential in the target muscle. There are different inhibitory and facilitatory intracortical circuits within the M1. The excitability of M1 is also modulated by interhemispheric inputs from the contralateral hemisphere and by inputs from premotor cortex, parietal cortex, cerebellum, and muscle afferents. The balance and interactions among the intracortical circuits determine the final motor cortical output. Moreover, the intracortical circuits are highly interconnected and the interactions among intracortical circuits can be investigated by a triple-pulse TMS paradigm.

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Abbreviations

CBI:

Cerebellar inhibition

CS:

Conditioning stimulus

D-wave:

Direct wave

GABA:

Gamma-aminobutyric acid

I-wave:

Indirect wave

ICF:

Intracortical facilitation

IHF:

Interhemispheric facilitation

ISI:

Interstimulus interval

LAI:

Long-latency afferent inhibition

LICI:

Long-interval intracortical inhibition

LIHI:

Long-latency interhemispheric inhibition

M1:

Primary motor cortex

MEP:

Motor evoked potential

SAI:

Short-latency afferent inhibition

SICF:

Short-interval intracortical facilitation

SICI:

Short-interval intracortical inhibition

SIHI:

Short-latency interhemispheric inhibition

SP:

Silent period

TMS:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

TS:

Test stimulus

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurology, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Research Institute,University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Zhen Ni

  2. 7MC-411, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada

    Robert Chen

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  1. Zhen Ni
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Correspondence to Zhen Ni .

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  1. , Department of Medicine, Toronto Western Research Institute, Bathurst St. 399, Toronto, M5T 2S8, Ontario, Canada

    Robert Chen

  2. Inst. Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom

    John C. Rothwell

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Ni, Z., Chen, R. (2012). Intracortical Circuits and Their Interactions in Human Primary Motor Cortex. In: Chen, R., Rothwell, J. (eds) Cortical Connectivity. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32767-4_3

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