Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroscience,
Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan | Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima
Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Masashi Hamada, Department of
Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, The
University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. Tel.: +81
3 5800 8672; Fax: +81 3 5800 6548; E-mail: mhamada-tky@umin.net
Abstract: A new patterned repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
protocol, quadripulse stimulation (QPS), can produce a broad range of motor
cortical plasticity ranging from MEP suppression to MEP facilitation depending
on the interval of the pulses within a burst. In addition to inducing lasting
cortical plastic changes, QPS can also be used to evaluate priming effects:
when used as a priming stimulation, which does not induce an LTP- or LTD-like
phenomena itself, it can nevertheless change the threshold for LTP- or LTD-like
plasticity caused by a consecutive stimulation. This enables us to examine
metaplasticity theory in more details in humans. Another application of QPS
might be to induce symptomatic relief in patients with neurological or
psychiatric disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, depression, or intractable pain.
Keywords: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), motor cortex, supplementary motor area, metaplasticity, LTP, LTD
