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An Investigation of Motor Function in Schizophrenia using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the Motor Cortex

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

B. K. Puri ,
N. J. Davey ,
P. H. Ellaway  and
S. W. Lewis
B. K. Puri
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, University of London
N. J. Davey*
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, University of London
P. H. Ellaway
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, University of London
S. W. Lewis
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, University of Manchester
*
Dr N. J. Davey, Department of Physiology, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, St Dunstan's Road, London W6 8RP
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Abstract

Background

In this first investigation of motor function in schizophrenia using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the general hypothesis tested was that this methodology could be used to investigate the disruption of corticospinal inhibitory processes suggested by cognitive and psychophysiological paradigms.

Method

Nine drug-free DSM–IV schizophrenic patients were compared with nine age- and sex-matched normal subjects. Electromyographic (EMG) recordings were made from the thenar muscles of the dominant hand during sustained, weak voluntary contraction. TMS over a particular threshold applied to the motor cortex would elicit a compound motor evoked potential (cMEP) followed by a period of suppression of EMG.

Results

The latency of cMEPs following TMS was significantly shorter in the schizophrenic patients. The two groups did not differ significantly with respect to mean latency of suppression of EMG activity, or stimulus thresholds for either cMEPs or EMG suppression.

Conclusion

These findings could be the result of a relative lack of corticospinal inhibition of motor responses; a change in the site of TMS activation; or an abnormality of peripheral nervous function in schizophrenia. Drug effects were unlikely since seven of the patients were drug-naïve.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 6 , December 1996 , pp. 690 - 695
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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