[Transcranial and spinal stimulation of motor pathways using conventional stimulator].

In a group of 31 subjects with a normal locomotor system in the area of the upper extremities transcutaneous cortical and spinal stimulation was administered using a conventional stimulator with an electromyographic tracing on the contralateral tenar and a common investigation of the motor conduction of the median nerve. The mean latency on stimulation on the calva was 20.0 +/- SD 0.9 ms, the mean amplitude 3.8 +/- SD 1.6 mV. The conduction time between cortex and the cervical spinal area was on average 4.8 +/- SD 0.5 ms, between cortex and wrist 16.26 +/- SD 0.8 ms, the mean latency on spinal stimulation 15.2 +/- SD 0.9 ms. The authors found a statistically significant relationship between the latencies from the calva, and spinal stimulation, with the height of the subject and with the length of the upper extremity, while there was no relationship between the conduction time in the central portion of the motor pathway and these anthropometric parameters. The authors evaluate the risk and tolerance of transcranial stimulation in man.