Circadian rhythms exert powerful influence on various aspects of human physiology and behavior. Here, we tested changes of human cerebral cortex excitability over the course of the day with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). At different times of the day, intracortical and corticospinal excitability of the primary motor cortex (M1) was evaluated in 15 healthy subjects by TMS of left M1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuropsychopharmacology
September 2008
Studies in animal models and humans indicate that chronic nicotine intake influences neuronal excitability, resulting in functional and structural CNS changes. The aim of the present study was to explore human primary motor cortex (M1) excitability with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in chronic smokers. A total of 44 right-handed volunteers, aged 20-30 years, participated in the study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To explore acute effects of pregabalin (PGB) on human motor cortex excitability with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Methods: PGB, 600 mg/day, was orally administered in 19 healthy subjects twice daily in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. Several measures of motor cortex excitability were tested with single- and paired-pulse TMS.