Figure 1.
Motor evoked potentials (MEP), F-waves, maximal M-waves (Mmax), perceived force error and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded before and after each intervention in the trained and untrained hands. The order of interventions was randomised and performed on separate days. Each of the interventions, performed with the ‘trained hand’, lasted for 15 mins and during this time the ‘untrained hand’ remained at rest. Within 5 minutes after each intervention post responses were acquired. EX –15 min of force training with the trained hand; rTMS+EX –15 min of force training and rTMS over M1 region of the trained hand performed concurrently; rTMS –15 min of rTMS over M1 region corresponding to the trained hand; Rest – no intervention.
Table 1.
Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), 35% MVC force output (35%) and resting motor threshold (rMT) of the flexor policis brevis (FPB) for the trained and untrained hands during all interventions.
Figure 2.
The error in force output production after the fifteen minute interventions (EX –15 min of force training with the trained hand; rTMS+EX –15 min of force training and rTMS over M1 region of the trained hand performed concurrently; rTMS –15 min of rTMS over M1 region corresponding to the trained hand; Rest – no intervention) in both the trained (open bars) and untrained (closed bars) hands.
Data are means ± SE for 13 participants. * - P<0.05 trained vs. untrained hand.
Figure 3.
Changes in ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) in the trained (A) and untrained (B) hand before and after the 15 min interventions (EX –15 min of force training with the trained hand; rTMS+Ex –15 min of force training and rTMS over M1 region of the trained hand performed concurrently; rTMS –15 min of rTMS over M1 region corresponding to the trained hand; Rest – no intervention).
Data are means ± SE for 13 participants. * - P<0.05 pre vs. post; $ - P<0.05 vs. rTMS post; # - P<0.01 vs. Rest post; ∧ - P<0.05 vs. trained hand at the same time point.
Figure 4.
Raw force and EMG traces while a performed the EX intervention.
EMG activity shown was recorded from the FPB muscle. Note, during the 35% contractions with the trained hand, no EMG activity was recorded in the untrained hand.
Figure 5.
Motor evoked potentials (MEP) evoked in the flexor pollicis brevis (FPB; A and B) and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS; C and D) muscles of the trained (A and C) and untrained hand (B and D) before and after the 15 min interventions.
Data are means ± SE.
Figure 6.
Maximal M-waves (Mmax) evoked in the flexor pollicis brevis (FPB) of the trained (A) and untrained (B) hands before and after the 15 min interventions.
Data are means ± SE.