Simple reaction time to focal transcranial magnetic stimulation. Comparison with reaction time to acoustic, visual and somatosensory stimuli.

We studied the effect of different go-signals on the reaction time in nine normal human subjects trained to respond by rapidly flexing one arm. Reaction times to auditory stimuli were shorter than those to visual or somatosensory stimuli, and were inversely correlated with the stimulus intensity. The reaction time was longest to a transcranial (magnetic or electric) stimulus delivered over the contralateral motor cortex that was sufficiently strong to induce a motor evoked potential in the responding biceps. Conversely, reaction time was shortest to either subthreshold transcranial stimulation over the same scalp position or to transcranial stimulation over the ipsilateral motor cortex regardless of intensity. Suprathreshold transcranial stimulation to the motor cortex seems to transiently inhibit the neurons responsible for initiation of motor programs involving muscles in which motor evoked potentials have been induced, thereby prolonging the reaction time. On the other hand, a subthreshold stimulus either disinhibits or directly activates such neurons leading to a shorter reaction time. Transcallosal connections between the motor cortices may account for the short reaction time to ipsilateral transcranial stimulation.