Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
Front Neural Circuits. 2021 Apr 29;15:548299. doi: 10.3389/fncir.2021.548299. eCollection 2021.
Mirror training (MT) is an observation-based motor learning strategy. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) is an accelerated form of excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) that has been used to enhance the cortical excitability of the motor cortices. This study aims to investigate the combined effects of iTBS with MT on the resting state functional connectivity at alpha frequency band in healthy adults. Eighteen healthy adults were randomized into one of three groups-Group 1: iTBS plus MT, Group 2: iTBS plus sham MT, and Group 3: sham iTBS plus MT. Participants in Groups 1 and 3 observed the mirror illusion of the moving (right) hand in a plain mirror for four consecutive sessions, one session/day, while participants in Group 2 received the same training with a covered mirror. Real or sham iTBS was applied daily over right motor cortex prior to the training. Resting state electroencephalography (EEG) at baseline and post-training was recorded when participants closed their eyes. The mixed-effects model demonstrated a significant interaction effect in the coherence between FC4 and C4 channels, favoring participants in Group 1 over Group 3 (Δβ = -0.84, = 0.048). A similar effect was also found in the coherence between FC3 and FC4 channels favoring Group 1 over Group 3 (Δβ = -0.43, = 0.049). In contrast to sham iTBS combined with MT, iTBS combined with MT may strengthen the functional connectivity between bilateral premotor cortices and ipsilaterally within the motor cortex of the stimulated hemisphere. In contrast to sham MT, real MT, when combined with iTBS, might diminish the connectivity among the contralateral parietal-frontal areas.
镜像训练（MT）是一种基于观察的运动学习策略。间歇性 theta 爆发刺激（iTBS）是一种加速形式的兴奋性重复经颅磁刺激（rTMS），已被用于增强运动皮质的皮质兴奋性。本研究旨在探讨 iTBS 与 MT 联合对健康成年人静息状态下 alpha 频段功能连接的影响。18 名健康成年人被随机分为三组：组 1：iTBS 加 MT，组 2：iTBS 加假 MT，组 3：假 iTBS 加 MT。组 1 和组 3 的参与者连续四天每天观看一个普通镜子中移动（右手）的镜像错觉，而组 2 的参与者则在覆盖的镜子中接受相同的训练。在训练前，每天在右运动皮质上施加真实或假 iTBS。当参与者闭眼时，记录基线和训练后的静息状态脑电图（EEG）。混合效应模型显示，在 FC4 和 C4 通道之间的相干性方面存在显著的交互效应，组 1 参与者优于组 3 参与者（Δβ=-0.84，=0.048）。在 FC3 和 FC4 通道之间的相干性方面也发现了类似的效果，组 1 参与者优于组 3 参与者（Δβ=-0.43，=0.049）。与假 iTBS 联合 MT 相比，iTBS 联合 MT 可能增强双侧运动前皮质与受刺激半球同侧运动皮质之间的功能连接。与假 MT 相比，当与 iTBS 联合使用时，真 MT 可能会降低对侧顶叶-额叶区域之间的连接。
