Mechanisms of nervous propagation along central motor pathways: noninvasive evaluation in healthy subjects and in patients with neurological disease.

Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) to scalp stimulation have been obtained in 45 control patients and in 70 patients with neurological diseases. Optimal responses were obtained through a pericranial cathode consisting of 6 to 12 regularly spaced, interconnected pericranial cathodal discs whose resistance was carefully balanced with that of a stimulating anodal disc placed on the appropriate scalp region. The foci of maximal response for proximal and distal upper limb muscles as well as for lower limb muscles were localized. The scalp to cervical cord central conduction time (CCT) along motor tracts governing the hand muscles was 5.21 +/- 0.42 ms. This index was highly correlated with the subject's height and stable in time when repeatedly tested. Collision between orthodromically and antidromically propagated motor impulses was obtained. Response facilitation was achieved by means of prestimulus voluntary contraction of the target muscle, continuous vibration of its tendon, or scalp stimulation with paired shocks. The presence of a premovement facilitation of MEPs was also demonstrated, as was the presumed presence of transcallosal facilitation. An efferent volley secondary to scalp stimulation was recorded from the nerve trunk. Abnormalities in MEP characteristics as well as in CCTs were found in patients with multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cord compression, and degenerative diseases of the central nervous system.