Dopaminergic potentiation of rTMS-induced motor cortex inhibition.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Experiments in animal models suggest that neuronal plasticity can be enhanced by dopaminergic receptor activation. The present study tested whether stimulation-induced plasticity of human motor cortex after low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could be potentiated by a single oral dose of the combined D1/D2 receptor agonist pergolide. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design, nine healthy young volunteers received .125 mg pergolide or placebo 2 hours before 1 Hz rTMS was applied for 20 min to the left primary motor cortex. In a control experiment 7 subjects received .125 mg pergolide 2 hours before sham rTMS. We used single-pulse TMS at rest to assess corticospinal excitability before and up to 24 min after rTMS. RESULTS: Suppression of corticospinal excitability by 1 Hz rTMS was more pronounced after pergolide intake compared with placebo and lasted approximately 20 min after pergolide but only 5 min after placebo. No change of corticospinal excitability could be observed when sham rTMS was performed after pergolide intake. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a possible role for dopaminergic potentiation of rTMS-induced neuroplasticity in experimental or therapeutic applications and should be considered when rTMS is applied in patients under medication with dopamine agonists or antagonists.

Author information

Author/s: Lang, Nicolas (N); Speck, Sascha (S); Harms, Jochen (J); Rothkegel, Holger (H); Paulus, Walter (W); Sommer, Martin (M);

Affiliation: Department of Neurology, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany. nlang(-atsign-)gwdg.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jan; vol 63 (issue 2) : pp 231-3

Dates: Created 2007/12/31; Completed 2008/02/27; Revised 2008/04/02;

PMID: 17604004, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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