Transcranial magnetic stimulation in sensorimotor processes

本设备申请是为了支持购买单脉冲经颅磁刺激(TMS)系统，供神经行为实验室(主任：Matthew Heath博士)和神经血管实验室(主任：Kevin Shoemaker博士)共享使用。安大略省西部)。每个实验室的中心主题是了解人类意志运动的感觉运动调节背后的大脑皮层目标。单脉冲TMS系统将为每个实验室提供有价值的补充，因为它将赋予安全地在其他健康个体的大脑中创建暂时性“虚拟损伤”的能力。特别是，虚拟毁损技术将提供一种直接的方法来了解特定的皮质靶点调节目标导向行为(例如，伸手和抓住：神经行为实验室)潜在的感觉运动过程的时间框架，以及影响由自愿运动引起的神经血管反应(例如，心率：神经血管实验室)。事实上，通过结合现有的研究工具，如离线神经成像、三维运动分析和超声波成像，神经行为和神经血管实验室的TMS工作将提供机会来检查广泛人类活动背后的皮质机制和感觉运动过程。

This equipment request is to support the purchase of a single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) system for shared use in the Neurobehavioural (Director: Dr. Matthew Heath) and Neurovascular (Director: Dr. Kevin Shoemaker) Labs (School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Univ. of Western Ontario). The central theme of each lab is to understand the cortical targets underlying the sensorimotor regulation of volitional human movement. A single-pulse TMS system will provide a valuable addition to each lab because it will impart the ability to safely create transient "virtual lesions" in the brains of otherwise healthy individuals. In particular, the virtual lesion technique will provide a direct means for understanding the timeframe by which specific cortical targets regulate the sensorimotor processes underlying goal-directed behaviour (e.g., reaching and grasping: Neurobehavioural Lab) as well as influence the neurovascular responses (e.g., heart rate: Neurovascular Lab) arising from voluntary movement. Indeed, by combining existing research tools such as offline neuroimaging, three-dimensional motion analysis, and ultrasound imaging, TMS work in the Neurobehavioural and Neurovascular Labs will provide the opportunity to examine the cortical mechanisms and sensorimotor processes underlying a broad range of human activities.