Low frequency rTMS over posterior parietal cortex impairs smooth pursuit eye tracking

Exp Brain Res. 2007 Nov;183(2):195-200. doi: 10.1007/s00221-007-1033-x. Epub 2007 Sep 8.

Abstract

The role of the posterior parietal cortex in smooth pursuit eye movements remains unclear. We used low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to study the cognitive and neural systems involved in the control of smooth pursuit eye movements. Eighteen participants were tested on two separate occasions. On each occasion we measured smooth pursuit eye tracking before and after 6 min of 1 Hz rTMS delivered at 90% of motor threshold. Low frequency rTMS over the posterior parietal cortex led to a significant reduction in smooth pursuit velocity gain, whereas rTMS over the motor cortex had no effect on gain. We conclude that low frequency offline rTMS is a potentially useful tool with which to explore the cortical systems involved in oculomotor control.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Attention
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Electric Stimulation / adverse effects
  • Electric Stimulation / methods
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / etiology*
  • Parietal Lobe / physiology*
  • Pursuit, Smooth / physiology*
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / adverse effects*