J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2010 Aug;34(4):397-402.

Comparison of Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with High- or Low-frequency on Visuospatial Neglect in Stroke Patients

• Kim JS
• Kim JC
• Shin SH
• Kim YK

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied over the right or left parietal cortex with high- or low-frequency on visuospatial neglect in stroke patients. METHOD: Nineteen stroke subjects (10 males, 9 females) were enrolled. All subjects received 1,200 real rTMS over left parietal cortex at an intensity of 90% of motor thresholds with 1 Hz, sham rTMS over right parietal cortex with 20 Hz and real rTMS over right parietal cortex at same intensity with 20 Hz under randomized cross over design. To compare the effects of different rTMS protocols, letter cancellation test, line bisection test (near, far) and Ota's task were administered before and after rTMS.
RESULTS
Low frequency rTMS over left parietal cortex, compared with sham stimulation, significantly improve visuospatial neglect in Ota's task (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
As low frequency rTMS over left parietal cortex showed beneficial effects on visuospatial neglect, low frequency rTMS can be used as a treatment modality for patients suffering from visuospatial neglect after stroke.

Keyword

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Visuospatial neglect; Stroke

MeSH Terms

Cross-Over Studies
Humans
Male
Salicylamides
Stress, Psychological
Stroke
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Salicylamides