Impaired Motor Cortex Plasticity in Patients with ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by an extensive loss of neurons in the corticospinal motor system. Neurophysiological studies in ALS patients have demonstrated motor system hyperexcitability with increased corticospinal excitability and reduced intracortical inhibition (ICI). We wanted to examine whether the deficient inhibitory control of intracortical circuits in ALS patients is accompanied by impairment of functional reorganization. The capability of the corticospinal system for externally induced, transient plastic changes was tested using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).…