Rebecca J.

Stevens
Neurologic Abstract #1

PTA 202

Williams J, Pascual-Leone A, Fregni F. Interhemispheric modulation induced by cortical

stimulation and motor training. Physical Therapy [serial online]. March 2010;90(3):398410. Available from: CINAHL with Full Text, Ipswich, MA.
Purpose:

The purpose of the study was to test the effects of the transcranial direct current
stimulation (tDCS) with unilateral motor training on interhemispheric inhibition.
The focus was on the use of a contralateral hand mitt to restrain dominant hand
use during motor tasks using the non-dominant hand. The effect is to simulate
typical neurologic function of patients with neurologic impairments. Through
investigation, interhemispheric modulation through the use of tDSC may improve
function in CVA patients.

Method:

Twenty-two healthy participants randomly were selected to receive active or sham

tDS. The application was to the primary motor cortex bilaterally. During
application, the participant received unilateral motor training and contralateral
hand restraint. Following motor training and restraint, participants performed
nine ADL tasks, including buttoning a shirt and pouring water. A single-pulse
commercially available TMS coil was used to measure corticospinal excitability.
The paired-pulse technique was also used to measure subthreshold data.

Results:

The active tDSC group showed a large increase in motor performance. The active
group also showed a decrease in cortical excitability in the dominant hemisphere
and from the dominant to nondominant hemispheres. The sham tDSC group
showed no change in hemispheric dominance.

Conclusion: The authors concluded that unilateral motor training may benefit patients with
neurologic disorders. In addition, the use of transcranial direct current stimulation
(tDCS) may be an effective therapeutic tool to enhance movement therapies,
especially of those with constraint based disorders.
Page 1

Rebecca J. Stevens
Neurologic Abstract #1
Opinion:

PTA 202

I feel that the use of tDSC is a potential therapy for patients with neurologic
disorders. However, I feel that the use of coils, mitts, and other restraining
devices will be overwhelming to a patient with any disorder, let alone a
neurologic disorder. I feel if the therapy can be modified to decrease the amount
of external stimulation items, it may be better suited for patient use. In addition,
the testing currently takes approximately 7-8 hours to complete. For patient use,
this would be exceptionally long and would need to be greatly shortened.

Abstracted by:

Rebecca J. Stevens; Class of 2014

Page 2