Intracortical inhibition and facilitation with unilateral dominant, unilateral nondominant and bilateral movement tasks in left- and right-handed adults

Sandy McCombe Waller, Larry Forrester, Federico Villagra, Jill Whitall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate intracortical inhibition and facilitation in response to unilateral dominant, nondominant and bilateral biceps activation and short-term upper extremity training in right- and left-handed adults.

METHODS: Paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to measure intracortical excitability in motor dominant and nondominant cortices of 26 nondisabled adults. Neural facilitation and inhibition were measured in each hemisphere during unilateral dominant, nondominant and bilateral arm activation and after training in each condition.

RESULTS: No differences were seen between right- and left-handed subjects. Intracortical facilitation and decreased inhibition were seen in each hemisphere with unilateral activation/training of contralateral muscles and bilateral muscle activation/training. Persistent intracortical inhibition was seen in each hemisphere with ipsilateral muscle activation/training. Inhibition was greater in the nondominant hemisphere during dominant hemisphere activation (dominant arm contraction).

CONCLUSION: Strongly dominant individuals show no difference in intracortical responses given handedness. Intracortical activity with unilateral and bilateral arm activation and short-term training differs based on hemispheric dominance, with the motor dominant hemisphere exerting a larger inhibitory influence over the nondominant hemisphere. Bilateral activation and training have a disinhibitory effect in both dominant and nondominant hemispheres.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)96-104
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the Neurological Sciences
Volume269
Issue number1-2
Early online date11 Mar 2008
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jun 2008

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Dominance, Cerebral
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Electroencephalography
  • Electromyography
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor
  • Exercise
  • Female
  • Hand
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Cortex
  • Movement
  • Neural Inhibition
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Motor control
  • Motor cortex
  • Neuronal excitability

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