OBJECTIVE: To investigate test-retest reliability of visual cortical excitatory and inhibitory phenomena. METHODS: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied over occipital cortex twice in 22 healthy young adults with at least a one-month interval between both measurements. The test-retest reliability of the phosphenes and TMS-induced suppression of visual perception was assessed using correlation and calculation of the repeatability coefficient. RESULTS: Both analyses revealed a high reliability for phosphenes but not for the suppression of visual perception. CONCLUSIONS: It seems likely that the phosphenes may be better used than the TMS-induced suppression of visual perception in experiments which need repeated measurements (e.g., longitudinal studies or studies with pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions). SIGNIFICANCE: The study demonstrates a rather limited value of the TMS-induced suppression of visual perception for studies with repeated measurements. Copyright Â
OBJECTIVE: To investigate test-retest reliability of visual cortical excitatory and inhibitory phenomena. METHODS: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied over occipital cortex twice in 22 healthy young adults with at least a one-month interval between both measurements. The test-retest reliability of the phosphenes and TMS-induced suppression of visual perception was assessed using correlation and calculation of the repeatability coefficient. RESULTS: Both analyses revealed a high reliability for phosphenes but not for the suppression of visual perception. CONCLUSIONS: It seems likely that the phosphenes may be better used than the TMS-induced suppression of visual perception in experiments which need repeated measurements (e.g., longitudinal studies or studies with pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions). SIGNIFICANCE: The study demonstrates a rather limited value of the TMS-induced suppression of visual perception for studies with repeated measurements. Copyright Â