Effect of Amantadine on Human Motor Cortex Excitability as Measured by TMS

Introduction: Amantadine has been frequently used for therapy of Parkinson's disease and influenza. The exact mechanism of action remains unclear. In vitro data suggest its main mechanism of action is NMDA receptor antagonism leading to a reduction of intracortical excitation. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of amantadine on human motor cortex excitability in healthy subjects by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to reflect its mechanism of action and to get information on other ways of cortical modulation in vivo. Methods: In a placebo-controlled double blind crossover study…