Transcranial and muscular single-pulse magnetic stimulation is efficient on motor [FND]s by the feedback of induced muscle contractions, 2021, Bonnan

Full title: Transcranial and muscular single-pulse magnetic stimulation is efficient on motor functional neurological disorders by the feedback of induced muscle contractions — A retrospective case series

Abstract

Objective
Motor functional neurological disorders (mFNDs) are improved by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which is thought to involve cortical modulation. We examined the outcome of a rapid TMS procedure.

Methods
Single-center retrospective case series including 41 consecutive patients suffering from mFNDs and receiving a combination of motor-evoked potentials (MEP), TMS and/or muscle stimulation.

Results
MEP and additional TMS were administered in 35 patients, sometimes with rescue by muscle stimulation. Magnetic muscle stimulation was given in 6 patients, sometimes with rescue by TMS. Complete immediate recovery was obtained in 65.9 % of the 41 patients, but the outcome of mFNDs after one year was poor. Treatment by TMS (n = 19) or by muscle stimulation (n = 4) given alone were associated with 78.9 % and 75 % of complete immediate recovery, respectively.

Conclusions
A rapid easy-to-perform TMS procedure obtained a high rate of immediate complete recovery in mFND. Clinical recovery was improved but was also obtained by direct magnetic stimulation of the paralyzed muscles.

Significance
TMS-induced recovery of mFND may not involve cortical modulation but could rather occur through reinforcement of the suggestion. Magnetic-induced muscle twitches may facilitate the self-expectation of motor recovery and could unlock the motor symptoms of mFND.

Open access, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590112521000244

 

What a pointless piece of "research", and given how expensive it is to publish, this must have wasted funds that could have been spent on something more useful.