Transcranial magnetic stimulation : data

Dr Shapour Jaberzadeh and Ms Prue Morgan (Monash University, Department of Physiotherapy) conducted a pilot trial involving collecting brain wave data from the stimulation of the left motor cortex using TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). Responses on how the brain controls both back (contralateral erector spinae) and abdominal (rectus abdominis) muscles were measured and compared. Seven healthy volunteers were tested in the trial using various stimulus intensities during graded voluntary activation in both postural (bilateral low back extension) and respiratory (forced expiration during breath holding) tasks. Data collected shows varied responses across the two tasks in the two sets of muscles and reinforces the importance of including training across a range of tasks within a rehabilitative program and identifying relevant task specificity for function.