Cortico–cortical inhibition of the motor cortical area projecting to sternocleidomastoid muscle in normals and patients with spasmodic torticollis or essential tremor

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate whether the cortico–cortical inhibition originally reported for the human hand motor area is present in the motor cortex for sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) and to evaluate the amount of inhibition in spasmodic torticollis and essential tremor.

Methods: Subjects were 14 normal healthy volunteers, 10 patients with spasmodic torticollis and 5 with essential tremor involving neck muscles. A paired-pulse magnetic stimulation was performed for the SCMs and first dorsal interosseous muscles (FDIs).

Results: In normal subjects, a subthreshold magnetic conditioning stimulus suppressed responses to a suprathreshold magnetic test stimulus when their interval was 1–5 ms in SCM. This indicates that the similar cortico–cortical inhibitory mechanism is present in the motor cortex for SCM as in the hand motor area. In the patients with spasmodic torticollis, the cortico–cortical inhibitory effect was reduced or absent in SCM, but normal in the FDI. In contrast, in patients with essential tremor, normal cortico–cortical inhibition was seen in both the SCM and FDI.

Conclusions: The cortico–cortical inhibitory mechanisms of the motor cortex for SCM can be studied by a paired-pulse magnetic stimulation method. Our result of reduced cortico–cortical inhibition in torticollis patients suggests abnormal excitability (hyperexcitable or disinhibited) of the motor cortex for SCM in spasmodic torticollis.