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Modification of motor cortical excitability by an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor

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Abstract

Acetylcholine powerfully modulates the excitability of neocortical neurones and networks. This study applied focal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to eight healthy subjects to test the effects of a single oral dose of 40 mg tacrine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, on motor cortical excitability. It was found that tacrine decreased short-interval intracortical inhibition, and increased intracortical facilitation and short-interval intracortical facilitation. Motor thresholds, motor evoked potential amplitude, cortical silent period (CSP) duration, and measures of spinal and neuromuscular excitability remained unchanged. The effects peaked at 2–6 h and fully reversed after 24 h. All effects can be explained by a reduction of motor cortical GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmission via activation of presynaptic muscarinic M2 receptors, but other more complex mechanisms may also have contributed and are discussed. The findings predict that acetylcholine has the potential to promote plasticity and learning in human motor cortex.

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Acknowledgements

T.V.I. was a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. The study was supported by Grant ZI 542/2-1 from the German Research Foundation (DFG) to U.Z.

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  1. Motor Cortex Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16, 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Alexei Korchounov, Tihomir V. Ilic, Tilo Schwinge & Ulf Ziemann

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  1. Alexei Korchounov
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  2. Tihomir V. Ilic
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  4. Ulf Ziemann
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Correspondence to Ulf Ziemann.

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Korchounov, A., Ilic, T.V., Schwinge, T. et al. Modification of motor cortical excitability by an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Exp Brain Res 164, 399–405 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-005-2326-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-005-2326-6

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