Interhemispheric Plasticity following Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation in Chronic Poststroke Aphasia. Source Neural Plasticity.

Authors:

Griffis JC; Nenert R; Allendorfer JB; Szaflarski JP. Institution Griffis,Joseph C. Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0021, USA. Nenert,Rodolphe. Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0021, USA. Allendorfer,Jane B. Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0021, USA. Szaflarski,Jerzy P. Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0021, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Title:

Interhemispheric Plasticity following Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation in Chronic Poststroke Aphasia. Source Neural Plasticity. 2016:4796906, 2016.

Abstract:

The effects of noninvasive neurostimulation on brain structure and function in chronic poststroke aphasia are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) applied to residual language-responsive cortex in chronic patients using functional and anatomical MRI data acquired before and after iTBS. Lateralization index (LI) analyses, along with comparisons of inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) activation and connectivity during covert verb generation, were used to assess changes in cortical language function. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to assess effects on regional grey matter (GM). LI analyses revealed a leftward shift in IFG activity after treatment. While left IFG activation increased, right IFG activation decreased. Changes in right to left IFG connectivity during covert verbgeneration also decreased after iTBS. Behavioral correlations revealed a negative relationship between changes in right IFG activation and improvements in fluency. While anatomical analyses did not reveal statistically significant changes in grey matter volume, the fMRI results provide evidence for changes in right and left IFG function after iTBS. The negative relationship between post-iTBS changes in right IFG activity during covert verb generation and improvements in fluency suggests that iTBS applied to residual left-hemispheric language areas may reduce contralateral responses related to language production and facilitate recruitment of residual language areas after stroke. **(rehab) \

Authors;

Ludemann-Podubecka J; Bosl K; Nowak DA. Institution Ludemann-Podubecka,Jitka. HELIOS Klinik Kipfenberg, Kipfenberg, Germany. Electronic address: jpodubec@post.cz. Bosl,Kathrin. HELIOS Klinik Kipfenberg, Kipfenberg, Germany. Nowak,Dennis Alexander. HELIOS Klinik Kipfenberg, Kipfenberg, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Philips University, Marburg, Germany. Title Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for motor recovery of the upper limb after stroke. [Review] Source Progress in Brain Research. 218:281-311, 2015.

Abstract OBJECTIVE:

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation changes excitability of the motor cortex and it has hereby the potential to modulate changes in neural processing which impede motor recovery after stroke. METHODS: This chapter presents an up-to-day systematic review of the treatment effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in promoting motor recovery of the affected upper limb after stroke.

RESULTS:

Thirty-seven trials were included in the analysis. The selected studies involved a total of 871 stroke subjects. All stimulation protocols pride on interhemispheric imbalance model. INTERPRETATION: rTMS enhances motor recovery of the affected hand after stroke; however, the data available until today is too limited to support its routine use.