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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Karen Fisher, Dr Boubker Zaaimi, Professor Stuart BakerORCiD
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Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of cerebral cortex is a popular technique for the non-invasive investigation of motor function. TMS is often assumed to influence spinal circuits solely via the corticospinal tract. We were interested in possible trans-synaptic effects of cortical TMS on the ponto-medullary reticular formation in the brainstem, which is the source of the reticulospinal tract and could also generate spinal motor output. We recorded from 210 single units in the reticular formation of three anaesthetized macaque monkeys whilst TMS was performed over primary motor cortex. Short latency responses were observed consistent with activation of a cortico-reticular pathway. However, we also demonstrated surprisingly powerful responses at longer latency, which often appeared at lower threshold than the earlier effects. These late responses seemed to be generated partly as a consequence of the sound click made by coil discharge, and changed little with coil location. This novel finding has implications for the design of future studies using TMS, as well as suggesting a means of non-invasively probing an otherwise inaccessible important motor centre.
Author(s): Fisher KM, Zaaimi B, Baker SN
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Physiology
Year: 2012
Volume: 590
Issue: 16
Pages: 4045-4060
Print publication date: 06/06/2012
ISSN (print): 0022-3751
ISSN (electronic): 1469-7793
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2011.226209
DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.226209
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