Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized clinically by abnormalities of both upper motor neurons (UMN) and lower motor neurons (LMN). The presence of UMN signs is not always easy to establish. The only technique used in routine to assess the corticospinal dysfunctions is based on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). However, this technique is largely dependent on LMN state and is based on artificial motor cortex activation. The main objective of our study project is to evaluate a new method assessing functional changes in motor system in ALS patients. By using cortico-muscular and cortico-cortical coherences, it could be possible to show modifications in both cortico-muscular relationship and in cortical activity coordination which could be related to clinical state in ALS patients. We notably expect a decrease in cortico-muscular coherence in ALS patients. Furthermore, these analyses could provide new insights in motor system plasticity phenomena. We expect a partial covering of voluntary motor command by cortical areas adjacent to primary motor cortex. Lastly, the hypothesis that an increased proportion of voluntary motor control may be assumed by ipsilateral corticospinal tract could be tested by coherence analyses. Coherence analysis might be a useful method to detect corticospinal tract dysfunctions. This method has the advantage to be painless and not to use artificial stimulations as it is used in TMS.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Marseille
Marseille, France
recording neuronal activities
simultaneous recording of brain activity using electrodes attached to the scalp and muscle activities of muscles of the hands with electrodes bonded to the skin.
Time frame: 12 months
identify plasticity phenomena
identify plasticity phenomena used in the cortex during the disease. The question is whether a reorganization of cortical networks could preserve, temporarily, the ability of patients to perform muscle contractions which case to determine the nature of the changes induced
Time frame: 12 months
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