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Effect of a drawing task on cortical excitability

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posted on 2023-05-27, 12:23 authored by Thorpe, ML
The present study examined the effects of a well-practiced motor skill on measures of primary motor cortex (M1) and corticospinal activity in a small sample of eight individuals. A drawing/geometric symbol copying task served as the model for a complex overlearned motor task, commonly performed in the course of daily life. Measures of post-task M1 activity were obtained using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-evoked electromyographic measures from two intrinsic hand muscles. These were evaluated with respect to the magnitude, time-course and variability of changes that reflect modulation of M1/corticospinal excitation-inhibition. Results of the study indicated that the drawing task had minimal influence on measures of M1/corticospinal excitability or variability, up to 15 minutes post-task. The practical implication of this study finding is that routine activities of daily living involving hand muscle use, including those that are complex in nature, appear to have minimal influence on TMS measures of M1/corticospinal excitability. Therefore, the usual daily activities that individuals engage in prior to participation in TMS studies do not appear to significantly bias TMS-evoked baseline measures of M1/corticospinal activity.

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