Exploring the Association Between Excitatory and Inhibitory Indices and the Mirror Neuron System by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the Primary Motor Cortex

Introduction: Previous studies investigated neuroplasticity in cervical dystonia (CD) using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) revealed abnormalities in inhibition/excitation systems, altered cortical representation, and potential effects of treatment in CD patients. Method: TMS was used to measure excitatory and inhibitory indices in the motor cortex of healthy participants. Mirror neuron task (MNT), motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, short- interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), and intracorticalfacilitation (ICF) were assessed. Results: Visual observation of hand movements elicited significant* (p > 0.05) decrease effect of inhibition in the First Dorsal Interosseous (FDI) muscle. Conclusion: This study highlights the association between theactivation of the mirror neuron system and TMS-measured plasticity indices, providing insights into neuroplasticity in CD and its diagnostic/therapeutic implications. Further research is neededfor motor rehabilitation applications.