Cortical sensory-motor coupling decreases with PD stage

Short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI), a measure of sensory-motor coupling, is decreased in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD), new data suggest.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive method for assessing cortical function and motor control, according to researchers in Kolkata, India. As an inhibitory paired pulse paradigm, SAI involves stimulation of the median nerve approximately 20 ms before a pulse is delivered via TMS. Use of SAI with TMS can determine the integrity of sensory-motor coupling.