Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in a patient with fixation-off sensitivity

Exp Brain Res. 2006 Aug;173(1):180-4. doi: 10.1007/s00221-006-0577-5. Epub 2006 Jun 17.

Abstract

Aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute and long-term effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on focal epileptiform interictal EEG activity in a patient with fixation-off sensitivity and partial epilepsy. Real and sham rTMS were delivered over the vertex. Two trains of 500 stimuli per day were delivered at 0.33 Hz frequency and threshold intensity for five consecutive days. The number of posterior EEG spikes and spike-and-wave complexes/min before and after the application of rTMS were compared in a blinded manner. In our patient, real-rTMS induced a long-lasting decrease in the number of posterior EEG spikes and spike-and-wave complexes/min. Despite the limitations of a single case report, our study confirms that low-frequency rTMS significantly reduces interictal focal epileptic activity over time.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Electromyography
  • Epilepsy / complications
  • Epilepsy / therapy
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor / physiology
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor / radiation effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / therapy*
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Reaction Time / radiation effects
  • Time Factors
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*