Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

LTD-like plasticity induced by paired associative stimulation: direct evidence in humans

  • Research Note
  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Paired associative stimulation (PAS), in which peripheral nerve stimuli are followed by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex, may produce a long lasting change in cortical excitability. At an interstimulus interval slightly shorter than the time needed for the afferent inputs to reach cerebral cortex (10 ms), motor cortex excitability decreases. Indirect data support the hypothesis that PAS at this interval (PAS10) involves LTD like-changes in cortical synapses. The aim of present paper was to investigate more directly PAS10 effects. We recorded corticospinal descending volleys evoked by single pulse TMS before and after PAS10 in two conscious subjects who had a high cervical epidural electrode implanted for pain control. These synchronous volleys provide a measure of cortical synaptic activity. PAS10 significantly reduced the amplitude of later descending waves while the earliest descending wave was not modified. Present results confirm the cortical origin of the effect of PAS10.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chen R, Classen J, Gerloff C, Celnik P, Wassermann EM, Hallett M, Cohen LG (1997) Depression of motor cortex excitability by low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation. Neurology 48:1398–1403

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen R, Cros D, Curra A, Di Lazzaro V, Lefaucheur JP, Magistris MR, Mills K, Rosler KM, Triggs WJ, Ugawa Y, Ziemann U (2008) The clinical diagnostic utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation: report of an IFCN committee. Clin Neurophysiol 119:504–532

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Classen J, Wolters A, Stefan K, Wycislo M, Sandbrink F, Schmidt A, Kunesch E (2004) Paired associative stimulation. Suppl Clin Neurophysiol 57:563–569

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooke SF, Bliss TV (2006) Plasticity in the human central nervous system. Brain 129:1659–1673

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Di Lazzaro V, Oliviero A, Pilato F, Saturno E, Dileone M, Mazzone P, Insola A, Tonali PA, Rothwell JC (2004) The physiological basis of transcranial motor cortex stimulation in conscious humans. Clin Neurophysiol 115:255–266

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Di Lazzaro V, Pilato F, Dileone M, Profice P, Oliviero A, Mazzone P, Insola A, Ranieri F, Meglio M, Tonali PA, Rothwell JC (2008a) The physiological basis of the effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation of the human motor cortex. J Physiol 586:3871–3879

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Di Lazzaro V, Pilato F, Dileone M, Profice P, Oliviero A, Mazzone P, Insola A, Ranieri F, Tonali PA, Rothwell JC (2008b) Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation suppresses specific excitatory circuits in the human motor cortex. J Physiol 586:4481–4487

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Di Lazzaro V, Ziemann U, Lemon R (2008c) State of the art: physiology of transcranial motor cortex stimulation. Brain Stimulat 4:345–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Lazzaro V, Dileone M, Pilato F, Profice P, Oliviero A, Mazzone P, Insola A, Capone F, Ranieri F, Tonali PA (2009) Associative motor cortex plasticity: direct evidence in humans. Cereb Cortex

  • Hess G, Donoghue JP (1999) Facilitation of long-term potentiation in layer II/III horizontal connections of rat motor cortex following layer I stimulation: route of effect and cholinergic contributions. Exp Brain Res 127:279–290

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stefan K, Kunesch E, Cohen LG, Benecke R, Classen J (2000) Induction of plasticity in the human motor cortex by paired associative stimulation. Brain 123(Pt 3):572–584

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thickbroom GW (2007) Transcranial magnetic stimulation and synaptic plasticity: experimental framework and human models. Exp Brain Res 180:583–593

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolters A, Sandbrink F, Schlottmann A, Kunesch E, Stefan K, Cohen LG, Benecke R, Classen J (2003) A temporally asymmetric Hebbian rule governing plasticity in the human motor cortex. J Neurophysiol 89:2339–2345

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ziemann U (2004) TMS induced plasticity in human cortex. Rev Neurosci 15:253–266

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ziemann U, Rothwell JC (2000) I-waves in motor cortex. J Clin Neurophysiol 17:397–405

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Vincenzo Di Lazzaro, M. Dileone, P. Profice, F. Pilato, A. Oliviero, R. Di Iorio, F. Capone, F. Ranieri, L. Florio & P. A. Tonali

  2. Fondazione Don C Gnocchi, Rome, Italy

    Vincenzo Di Lazzaro & P. A. Tonali

  3. FENNSI Group, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Finca la Peraleda, 45071, Toledo, Spain

    A. Oliviero

  4. Neurochirurgia CTO, Via S. Nemesio 21, 00145, Rome, Italy

    P. Mazzone

Authors
  1. Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Dileone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Profice
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. F. Pilato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Oliviero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. P. Mazzone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. R. Di Iorio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. F. Capone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. F. Ranieri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. L. Florio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. P. A. Tonali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vincenzo Di Lazzaro.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Di Lazzaro, V., Dileone, M., Profice, P. et al. LTD-like plasticity induced by paired associative stimulation: direct evidence in humans. Exp Brain Res 194, 661–664 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-009-1774-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-009-1774-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation