Fig. 1

MEP-based measures in patients with stroke and healthy controls. Overall, ipsilesional corticospinal excitability is reduced, shown by enhanced RMT and reduced MEP amplitudes. The duration of ipsilesional cSP is prolonged. Pt9, whose ipsilesional MEPs were not recordable, was excluded from the analysis of MEP-based measures. (A – F) Comparisons of the ipsilesional and contralesional RMTs, aMEPs, MEPs, ICF, SICI, and cSP of the patients with stroke and the measures of the healthy controls. (G) Unambiguous silent periods of a healthy participant and a patient with stroke, showing eight trials of each measure. (H) An incomplete ipsilesional cSP was found in eight patients with stroke, exemplified by slight and persistent EMG activity after aMEPs until EMG bursts returned. Notes: RMT: resting motor thresholds; MSO: maximal stimulation output; MEP: motor-evoked potential; aMEP: active MEP; ICF: intracortical facilitation; SICI: short-interval intracortical inhibition; cSP: cortical silent period; RMS: root mean square of baseline EMG activity