Rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation and hemispheric language dominance: usefulness and safety in epilepsy

We performed rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation (r-TMS) in 14 epileptic patients, using a coil centered over nine different positions on each side of the scalp and while the subjects counted aloud. We obtained lateralized speech arrest, concordant with the site of manual preference, in onl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNeurology Vol. 44; no. 9; p. 1697
Main Authors Michelucci, R, Valzania, F, Passarelli, D, Santangelo, M, Rizzi, R, Buzzi, A M, Tempestini, A, Tassinari, C A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.09.1994
Subjects
Adult
Brain Mapping
Dominance, Cerebral
Electromagnetic Phenomena
Epilepsy - physiopathology
Female
Humans
Language
Male
Middle Aged
Speech
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Summary:We performed rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation (r-TMS) in 14 epileptic patients, using a coil centered over nine different positions on each side of the scalp and while the subjects counted aloud. We obtained lateralized speech arrest, concordant with the site of manual preference, in only seven patients. There was transitory homonymous hemianopia (one patient), brief jerking of one arm (two patients), and affective (crying) reaction (three patients) after the end of a train of stimuli. In our experience, r-TMS is not as sensitive as previously reported for determination of hemispheric language dominance and may have undesirable side effects.
ISSN:0028-3878
DOI:10.1212/wnl.44.9.1697