Hess C W, Mills K R, Murray N M
Neurosci Lett. 1986 Nov 11;71(2):235-40. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(86)90565-3.
An intense rapidly changing magnetic field generated in a coil over the scalp can excite motor pathways to hand muscles. With a suprathreshold stimulus, the amplitude of the muscle action potential of the abductor digiti minimi is increased: by weak contraction of the muscle itself, by weak contraction of the ipsilateral first dorsal interosseus, by stronger contraction of the contralateral abductor digiti minimi, but not by contraction of the contralateral first dorsal interosseus, nor by the ipsilateral quadriceps muscle. This facilitation of response to brain stimulation may occur by two mechanisms, one related to the focussing of attention onto a particular hand, the second involving a rise in excitability of homologous motor pathways.
头皮上方的线圈中产生的强烈且快速变化的磁场能够刺激通往手部肌肉的运动通路。在阈上刺激时，小指展肌的肌肉动作电位幅度会增加：通过肌肉自身的微弱收缩、同侧第一背侧骨间肌的微弱收缩、对侧小指展肌的较强收缩，但不会通过对侧第一背侧骨间肌的收缩，也不会通过同侧股四头肌的收缩。对脑刺激反应的这种易化作用可能通过两种机制发生，一种与将注意力集中到特定手部有关，另一种涉及同源运动通路兴奋性的提高。
