A time-efficient method to determine parameters for measurement of short-interval intracortical inhibition for quadriceps

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

European Journal of Neuroscience

ISSN

0953816X

PubMed ID

32652725

Publisher

Wiley

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

35220

Comments

Ruas, C. V., Taylor, J. L., Nosaka, K., Haff, G. G., & Latella, C. (2020). A time‐efficient method to determine parameters for measurement of short‐interval intracortical inhibition for quadriceps. European Journal of Neuroscience, 52(12), 4751-4761. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.14904

Abstract

© 2020 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd Short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) is often assessed to investigate inhibitory responses in the primary motor cortex representation of the quadriceps. However, determining appropriate paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) parameters to optimise SICI measurement can be impractical and time-consuming. This study investigated the intensity required to elicit maximal and 50% of maximum inhibition, and the test-retest reliability of a time-efficient approach for SICI measurement in quadriceps. Nine men and six women (26.6 ± 4.4 years) underwent single and paired-pulse (3-ms interval) TMS during 10% maximal voluntary isometric contraction on two days. Responses were recorded from vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF) and vastus medialis (VM). Test stimulus intensity was 140% of active motor threshold (AMT), and conditioning stimulus intensities (CSIs) ranged from 55% to 90% (eight intensities) of AMT (five test and five paired responses for each intensity). With CSI of 55% AMT, SICI was minimal (conditioned:test motor evoked potential [MEP]; 1.00, 0.96 and 0.95 for VL, RF and VM, respectively, < 1.00 indicates inhibition). Inhibition was greater at 70%–90% AMT for VL (0.67–0.85), at 75%–90% AMT for RF (0.70–0.78) and at 80%–90% AMT for VM (0.59–0.68) when compared to 55% AMT. The CSIs that elicited maximal and 50% maximal inhibition were ~84% and ~75% AMT, respectively. Reliability for individual CSIs ranged from “poor-to-good” for all muscles. SICI averaged across all CSIs demonstrated “moderate” reliability for VL and VM, but “poor” reliability for RF. This method may offer a practical approach to individualise and select CSIs to investigate quadriceps inhibitory networks in neurophysiological studies.

DOI

10.1111/ejn.14904

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