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Cell Biology JoVE (Open Access) Citable · DOI

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

DOI: 10.3791/51001-v
What you'll learn
  • ✓ Apply single-pulse TMS to assess motor cortex excitability during action observation
  • ✓ Register and analyze electromyographic responses from hand muscles
  • ✓ Interpret corticospinal excitability changes during motor imagery tasks
Protocol

Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation over the primary motor cortex, neuronavigation, and registration of electromyographic activity of hand muscles were used in this study to explore corticospinal excitability while participants were observing action sequences.

Difficulty
advanced
Total time
~90 min per participant (including preparation, neuronavigation, and experimental session)

Steps

1
Prepare TMS equipment and recruit participants

Set up transcranial magnetic stimulation apparatus, neuronavigation system, and electromyography recording equipment. Screen and enroll eligible human participants meeting inclusion criteria.

▶ 02:14
2
Perform single-pulse TMS and record MEP

Deliver single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation over primary motor cortex using neuronavigated coil positioning. Simultaneously record motor-evoked potentials from hand muscles via electromyography.

▶ 03:42
3
Conduct action observation experimental session

Present action video sequences to participants while monitoring corticospinal responses. Apply TMS pulses at predetermined timepoints during observation to measure excitability modulation.

▶ 07:54
4
Analyze corticospinal excitability and MEP data

Quantify motor-evoked potential amplitudes and latencies. Compare excitability measures across observation conditions using appropriate statistical methods.

▶ 09:35
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