Decreased short-interval intracortical inhibition correlates with better pinch strength in patients with stroke and good motor recovery.
BACKGROUND
Deeper short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), a marker of GABAA activity, correlates with better motor performance in patients with moderate to severe hand impairments in the chronic phase after stroke.


OBJECTIVES
We evaluated the correlation between SICI in the affected hemisphere and pinch force of the paretic hand in well-recovered patients. We also investigated the correlation between SICI and pinch force in controls.


METHODS
Twenty-two subjects were included in the study. SICI was measured with a paired-pulse paradigm. The correlation between lateral pinch strength and SICI was assessed with Spearman's rho.


RESULTS
There was a significant correlation (rho = 0.69, p = 0.014) between SICI and pinch strength in patients, but not in controls. SICI was significantly deeper in patients with greater hand weakness.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary findings suggest that decreased GABAA activity in M1AH correlates with better hand motor performance in well-recovered subjects with stroke in the chronic phase.
['Ferreiro de Andrade|Karina Nocelo|KN|', 'Conforto|Adriana Bastos|AB|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor D005260:Female D006225:Hand D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009044:Motor Cortex D009433:Neural Inhibition D052581:Pinch Strength D020127:Recovery of Function D020521:Stroke D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Intracortical inhibition Chronic stroke Rehabilitation Transcranial magnetic stimulation