Effects of Action Observation Training with 1 Hz Low Frequency Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Cerebral Cortex Activity and Hand Function in Patients with Ideomotor Apraxia after Stroke

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of action observation training with low frequency repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on cerebral cortex activity and hand function in patients with ideomotor apraxia after Stroke. Fourteen patients were randomly divided into two groups which in action observation training (AOT) with 1 Hz low-frequency rTMS and AOT without rTMS. Motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude and latency were examined by TMS for cerebral cortex activity and hand function was evaluated by manual function test (MFT). As a result, there was a significant difference in MEP amplitude in group, but only AOT with rTMS group was a significant difference in MEP latency and MFT. In addition, there was a significant difference of MEP amplitude, latency and MFT between groups. These results suggest that application of AOT and rTMS can have a positive effect on the recovery of hand function in ideomotor apraxia after patients.