Brain State-dependent PCMS in Chronic Stroke

Paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) involves delivering precisely timed pairs of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) so that the neuronal activity evoked by such stimulation arrives synchronously at corticospinal-motoneuronal synapses. This synchronous arrival is postulated to cause long-term potentiation via spike timing-dependent plasticity, which then improves corticospinal transmission and hand function. In this study, paired corticomotoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) will be applied during specific brain states that reflect increased recruitment of motoneurons via the corticospinal tract. This increased recruitment is expected to enhance the beneficial effects of PCMS on human hand function after stroke.