Differential effect of repetitive hand movements upon intracortical excitability in cortical and subcortical strokes

Background and purpose: Repetitive training of isolated movements induces local reorganisations of motorcortical representations. To investigate the effect of repetitive movements on intracortical excitability shortly after the movements, we performed paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation in cortical and subcortical stroke patients and healthy controls. Methods: Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded simultaneously from the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) and the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle (FCU) following paired stimuli at rest or 1 second after repetitive (every 6 seconds for 5 minutes) passive or…