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The ipsilateral corticospinal responses to cross-education are dependent upon the motor-training intervention

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Abstract

This study aimed to identify the ipsilateral corticospinal responses of the contralateral limb following different types of unilateral motor-training. Three groups performing unilateral slow-paced strength training (SPST), non-paced strength training (NPST) or visuomotor skill training (VT) were compared to a control group. It was hypothesised that 4 weeks of unilateral SPST and VT, but not NPST, would increase ipsilateral corticospinal excitability (CSE) and reduce short-interval cortical inhibition (SICI), resulting in greater performance gains of the untrained limb. Tracking error of the untrained limb reduced by 29 and 41% following 2 and 4 weeks of VT. Strength of the untrained limb increased by 8 and 16% following 2 and 4 weeks of SPST and by 6 and 13% following NPST. There was no difference in cross-education of strength or tracking error. For the trained limb, SPST and NPST increased strength (28 and 26%), and VT improved by 47 and 58%. SPST and VT increased ipsilateral CSE by 89 and 71% at 2 weeks. Ipsilateral CSE increased 105 and 81% at 4 weeks following SPST and VT. The NPST group and control group showed no changes at 2 and 4 weeks. SPST and VT reduced ipsilateral SICI by 45 and 47% at 2 weeks; at 4 weeks, SPST and VT reduced SICI by 48 and 38%. The ipsilateral corticospinal responses are determined by the type of motor-training. There were no differences in motor performance between SPST, NPST and VT. The data suggests that the corticospinal responses to cross-education are different and determined by the type of motor-training.

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

    Michael Leung & Wei-Peng Teo

  2. Department of Biology and Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Timo Rantalainen

  3. Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Dawson Kidgell

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  1. Michael Leung
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Correspondence to Dawson Kidgell.

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Leung, M., Rantalainen, T., Teo, WP. et al. The ipsilateral corticospinal responses to cross-education are dependent upon the motor-training intervention. Exp Brain Res 236, 1331–1346 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-018-5224-4

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