Influence of the N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist memantine on human motor cortex excitability

doi:10.1016/S0304-3940(99)00492-9

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 270, Issue 3, 6 August 1999, Pages 137-140

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(99)00492-9 Get rights and content

Abstract

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist memantine on motor excitability in humans. Seven healthy volunteers received memantine or placebo, respectively, over a period of 8 days. At day 8, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was performed using a paired pulses paradigm in order to assess intracortical inhibition and facilitation. Additionally, motor threshold and silent period duration after TMS were measured as well as M waves, F waves and peripheral silent period after electrical peripheral nerve stimulation. Intracortical inhibition was enhanced, and intracortical facilitation reduced after memantine ingestion in comparison to placebo, whereas no significant difference could be observed regarding the other neurophysiological parameters. We conclude that the NMDA receptor is involved in the regulation of excitability of intracortical interneuronal circuits.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. G. Quack and his colleagues from the Department of Pharmacological Research, Merz+Co., Frankfurt am Main, Germany, for measurement of memantine serum levels. This work was supported by a grant from the Hauptverband der gewerblichen Berufsgenossenschaften, St. Augustin.

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Influence of the N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist memantine on human motor cortex excitability

Abstract

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev.

Eur. J. Pharmacol.

Neurosci. Lett.

Effects of regional anesthesia on phantom limb pain are mirrored in changes in cortical reorganization

J. Neurosci.

Mechanisms of cortical reorganization in lower-limb amputees

J. Neurosci.

H reflexes and F waves; physiology and clinical indications

Muscle Nerve

Phantom-limb pain as a perceptual correlate of cortical reorganization following arm amputation

Nature

NMDA receptors and plasticity in adult primate somatosensory cortex

J. Comp. Neurol.

Abnormal cortical motor excitability in dystonia

Neurology

Functional reorganization of adult cat somatosensory cortex is dependent on NMDA receptors

NeuroReport