Modulation of dorsal premotor cortex disrupts neuroplasticity of primary
motor cortex in young and older adults
Abstract
Previous transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) research suggests that
dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) influences neuroplasticity within primary
motor cortex (M1) through indirect (I) wave interneuronal circuits.
However, it is unclear how the influence of PMd on the plasticity of M1
I-waves changes with advancing age. This study therefore investigated
the neuroplastic effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS)
to M1 early and late I-wave circuits when preceded by iTBS (PMd iTBS-M1
iTBS) or sham stimulation (PMd sham-M1 iTBS) to PMd in 15 young and 16
older adults. M1 excitability was assessed with motor evoked potentials
(MEP) recorded from right first dorsal interosseous using
posterior-anterior (PA) and anterior-posterior (AP) current TMS at
standard stimulation intensities (PA1mV, AP1mV) and reduced stimulation
intensities (PA0.5mV, early I-waves; AP0.5mV, late I-waves). PMd iTBS-M1
iTBS disrupted the expected facilitation of PA0.5mV (to M1 iTBS) in
young and older adults (P = 0.009), whereas the intervention had no
effect on AP0.5mV facilitation in either group (P = 0.305). This
suggests that the influence of PMd on M1 plasticity is preserved in
older adults and may involve projections to early I-wave circuits within
M1.