The excitability of the motor cortex is less modifiable by repetitive acoustic stimulation in patients with generalised epilepsy

Objective: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a well established method for investigation of excitatory and inhibitory circuits of human cortex. Some studies revealed altered or normal motor cortical excitability when measured by TMS in patients with generalized epilepsy. Here we addressed the question whether motor cortex excitability is abnormally modifiable by repetitive acoustic stimulation. Methods: We studied seven right-handed patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (mean age: 17 years) and eight healthy aged matched controls. TMS was given to the dominant left motor cortex and motor evoked…