Abstract
Objective:
We examined 8 patients with hemihypesthesia due to an ischemic thalamic lesion to explore the effects of a central sensory dysfunction on motor cortex excitability.
Methods:
Motor excitability was assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques and electrical peripheral nerve stimulation. Motor function was evaluated by the Nine-Hole-Peg Test and measurement of hand grip strength. The affected side was compared with the non-lesioned side and with an age-matched control group.
Results:
Patients had a loss of inhibition and an increase of facilitation in the motor cortex of the affected side. The silent period was prolonged and motor function was impaired on the affected side.
Conclusions:
A thalamic lesion can modulate motor cortical excitability.
Significance:
This study suggests that, under normal conditions, somatosensory afferents influence inhibitory and excitatory properties in the motor cortex.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Adult
-
Afferent Pathways / physiopathology
-
Aged
-
Brain Infarction / complications
-
Brain Infarction / pathology
-
Brain Infarction / physiopathology*
-
Electric Stimulation
-
Evoked Potentials, Motor / physiology
-
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / physiology
-
Female
-
Hand Strength / physiology
-
Humans
-
Magnetics
-
Male
-
Middle Aged
-
Motor Cortex / physiopathology*
-
Movement Disorders / etiology
-
Movement Disorders / pathology
-
Movement Disorders / physiopathology*
-
Muscle Weakness / etiology
-
Muscle Weakness / pathology
-
Muscle Weakness / physiopathology
-
Neural Conduction / physiology
-
Neural Inhibition / physiology
-
Paresis / etiology
-
Paresis / pathology
-
Paresis / physiopathology
-
Reaction Time / physiology
-
Sensation Disorders / etiology
-
Sensation Disorders / pathology
-
Sensation Disorders / physiopathology*
-
Somatosensory Cortex / physiopathology
-
Thalamic Diseases / complications
-
Thalamic Diseases / pathology
-
Thalamic Diseases / physiopathology*
-
Ventral Thalamic Nuclei / pathology
-
Ventral Thalamic Nuclei / physiopathology