Cortical excitability variability: Insights into biological and behavioral characteristics of healthy individuals

Motor threshold (MT) measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has diagnostic utility in central nervous system disorders. Its diagnostic sensitivity may be enhanced by identification of non-pathological factors which may influence this measure. The aim of this study was to provide a description of MT variability across physiological and non-pathological behaviour characteristics in a large cohort, including hemispheric asymmetries. In a cross-sectional study, age, handedness, physical activity level, body mass index, gender/menstrual cycle phase, glycemic index and degree of stress were collected from 115 healthy participants. The resting MT of the first dorsal interosseous muscle to TMS was recorded in both hemispheres and served as an indicator of the cortical excitability level. Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed higher MT values in the non-dominant hemisphere, elderly people, stressed individuals and women with amenorrhea. Other biological and behavioral individual characteristics did not influence cortical excitability. Although the degree of interhemispheric difference varied (range: 0.2 to 4.3), depending on biological and behavioral characteristics, this variation was not significant (0.1 ≤ p ≤ 0.8). In conclusion, MT varied considerably between subjects. The difference between the hemisphere excitability that was less influenced by external factors, may be an alternative method of TMS measure to identify pathological changes of cortical excitability.