SCIENCE@home

Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Dystonia: An Overview

S. Machado,Ó. Arias-Carrión,Flávia Paes,Emmy Uehara,B. Velasques,S. Teixeira,P. Ribeiro,A. Nardi,Rio de Jan,Philipps University-Marburg,P. Catholic

Published 2011 in Unknown venue

ABSTRACT

Problem statement: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a non- invasive procedure whereby a pulsed magnetic field stimulates electrical activity in the brain. Dyston ia is characterized by several disabling symptoms for which effective, mechanism-based treatments remain elusive. Approach: Consequently, more advanced non-invasive therapeutic methods were required. A possible method to modulate brain activ ity and potentially viable for use in clinical practice was rTMS. We focus on the basic foundation of rTMS, the effects of rTMS on neuroplasticity and sensorimotor integration and the experimental a dvances of rTMS that may become a viable clinical application to treat dystonia. Results: The findings showed that rTMS can improve some symptoms associated with dystonia and might be useful for promoting cortical plasticity in dystonic patients. These changes were transient and it is pr emature to propose these applications as realistic therapeutic options, even though the rTMS technique has shown itself to be, potentially, a modulator o f sensorimotor integration and neuroplasticity. Conclusion/Recommendations: Functional imaging of the region of interest could highlight the capacity of rTMS to bring about plastic changes of the cortical circuitry and hint at future novel clinica l interventions. We recommend further studies to clearly determine the role of rTMS in the treatment of these conditions. Finally, we must remember that however exciting the neurobiological mechanisms might be, the clinical usefulness of rTMS will be determined by their ability to provide patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders with sa fe, long-lasting and substantial improvements in qualit y of life.

PUBLICATION RECORD

CITATION MAP

EXTRACTION MAP

CLAIMS

  • No claims are published for this paper.

CONCEPTS

  • No concepts are published for this paper.

REFERENCES

Showing 1-88 of 88 references · Page 1 of 1

CITED BY

Showing 1-5 of 5 citing papers · Page 1 of 1