A novel model incorporating two variability sources for describing motor evoked potentials.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) play a pivotal role in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), e.g., for determining the motor threshold and probing cortical excitability. Sampled across the range of stimulation strengths, MEPs outline an input-output (IO) curve, which is often used to characterize the corticospinal tract. More detailed understanding of the signal generation and variability of MEPs would provide insight into the underlying physiology and aid correct statistical treatment of MEP data.

Methods

A novel regression model is tested using measured IO data of twelve subjects. The model splits MEP variability into two independent contributions, acting on both sides of a strong sigmoidal nonlinearity that represents neural recruitment. Traditional sigmoidal

SUBMITTER: Goetz SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4108579 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature