TMS ccPAS approach enhances motor resonance

What is it about?

The cortico-cortical paired associative stimulation (ccPAS) technique is utilized to modulate the connection strength between the ventral premotor cortex (PMv) and primary motor cortex (M1). By enhancing the PMv to M1 projections, there is a transient increase in motor resonance within M1, as evidenced by heightened motor-evoked potential (MEP) facilitation during action observation. Notably, this effect is specific to ccPAS interventions and is not observed with active control or sham protocols. The motor resonance effects observed in the corticospinal system depend on the PMv to M1 pathway, highlighting the significance of this neural pathway in modulating motor responses.

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Why is it important?

The present study shows that ccPAS administered over PMv and M1 to strengthen directional PMv→M1 connectivity transiently enhances the effect of AO on M1 corticospinal excitability.