Remote effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the cerebellum of spinocerebellar degeneration patients

Abstract In order to investigate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the cerebellum of spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) patients, the hemodynamic changes of the brain during rTMS was measured using noninvasive dynamic multi-channel near-infrared optical topography (OT). Two SCD patients diagnosed as OPCA participated in this study. Both had been having rTMS administered to their cerebellum once a week for more than 2 years for therapeutic purposes under the permission of the local ethical committee. Three sessions of 15 times application of 1 Hz rTMS were applied at 3-min intervals. OT probes were set on the scalp and the hemodynamic changes of the fronto-paretal lobe were measured during each session. Changes in hemoglobin were recorded at 15-s prestimulus intervals and consecutively 195 s during and after stimulus. Increased blood flow around the premotor area was observed during rTMS, and the effects were prolonged for more than at least a couple of minutes after rTMS. These results suggest that rTMS administered to the cerebellum of SCD patients may have a remote effect on the frontal lobe and that the blood flow of the frontal lobe may change during and after rTMS.