Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 371, Issues 2–3, 23 November 2004, Pages 185-189
Neuroscience Letters

The effect of rTMS over the cerebellum in normal human volunteers on peg-board movement performance

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2004.08.067Get rights and content

Abstract

Low frequency rTMS over the paramedian part of the right cerebellum was used to test the effects of TMS-induced disruption of the cerebellum on performance of the 10-hole pegboard task. A test group (n = 14) showed significantly increased movement times lasting about 3 min after the 5-min 1 Hz rTMS train, compared to a control group who received no rTMS (n = 14), tested in a parallel group design. The increase was greatest for the hand ipsilateral to the stimulation, but the difference between the two hands was not statistically significant. These results suggest that the rTMS affects cerebellar excitability and cause a short-lasting bilateral change in sensory-motor performance.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the James S McDonnell Foundation. RCM is supported by the Wellcome Trust, LODC by the Alfred Benzon Foundation.

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