A local signature of LTP-like plasticity induced by repetitive paired associative stimulation

Brain Topogr. 2015 Mar;28(2):238-49. doi: 10.1007/s10548-014-0396-0. Epub 2014 Sep 14.

Abstract

Repetitive paired associative stimulation (rPAS) repeatedly pairs electrical nerve stimulation (ENS) with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the contralateral motor hand area (M1) at 5 Hz frequency. So far, there are only few studies concerning the effects of PAS on the modulation of EEG power. Hence, aim of the present study was to investigate rPAS long term after-effects on cortical excitability looking at EEG power spectra. In four experimental sessions, separated by 2 weeks interval, 12 awake subjects received rPAS of the right median nerve and left M1 at a fixed interval (ISI) of 25 ms (real condition), 5 Hz-TMS on left M1, 5 Hz-ENS, of the right median nerve, and rPAS with changing ISI (sham condition). We measured peak-to-peak MEP amplitude, evoked from the target muscle (right abductor pollicis brevis muscle) at rest and the absolute power (POW) in four frequency bands: α (8-12 Hz), β (13-30), θ (4-7) and δ (1-3), under rest conditions. All these parameters were evaluated in three detection blocks: baseline, immediately after and after 30' from the end of the conditioning protocol. Real rPAS induced a long-lasting homotopic cortical excitability modulation, as indexed by MEP amplitude increase, that was paralleled by a long-lasting reduction of α/β-POW and by a widespread θ-δ-POW modulation. rPAS applied over the sensory-motor cortex induced an LTP-like plasticity, as indexed by a robust reduction in the α/β POW positively correlated with the MEP amplitude increase. rPAS25ms may be a useful tool for motor neurorehabilitation promoting a sensory-motor coupling within β oscillations.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Electric Stimulation / methods*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Electromyography
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor / physiology
  • Female
  • Hand / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Median Nerve / physiology*
  • Motor Cortex / physiology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods*