PD-1-02-04
ACTUAL CONDITION AND PROBLEM ON INDEPENDENT LIVING OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY IN JAPAN
Akihiro Taniguchi (Executive Director of Independent Living Research Institute)
Abstract:
1. An Adjustment on Japanese Independent Living Concept of the Persons with
Disability.
2. Attempt to Make Clear the Social Barriers of an Independent Living Condition in a Community.
3. A Detailed Explanation of the Social Services for an Independent Living of the Persons With a Serious Disability in Japan.
4. Grope for the Possibility on an Independent Living of the Person With a Serlous Disability in a Community.
S-1-10-01
MAGNETIC BRAIN STIMULATION - FACILITATION AND SAFETY
Shin-ichi lzumi (Tokai University, Isehara, Japan)
Facilitation: Facilitatory effects of thinking about a specific movement without volontary discharges, on motor evoked potentials (MEP) were investigated. Surface electromyol ogaphic responses from the abductor pollicis brevis of healthy subjects were recorded with maximal stimulator output in the three conditions: the muscle being at rest, contracting with 10% of maximal muscle activity, and with the subject "only thinking" about thumb abduction. Median value of MEP amplitudes during "only thinking" was twice that at rest, and a half of that during voluntary contraction. This "thinking facilitation" would be a valuable tool in rehabilitation at a stage when observable muscle movement is still impossible, yet motor conduction is facilitated by thinking, and may hasten neurological recovery.
Safety: We determined the changes and responses in the electroencephalogram (EEG) induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of healthy men. The center of a circular coil was positioned at the vertex, and 80 stimulations were administered clockwise with t he maximum o utp uto f electric current. To reduce stimulus artifacts, we created a circuit that blocked the input for 150 msec after stimulation. The following results were obtained: (1) slowing of the EEG was observed immediately ( 150 msec) after each stimulation. The incidence of changes ranged from 25-80%; their duration ranged from 200-600 msec. (2) Electroencephalographic responses in the averaged form appeared as gentle positive waves. In some subjects and leads, 1 to 3 negative peaks were fused. The methods used in the present study should be useful in evaluating the sensitivity to TMS of patients with stroke and other types of brain injury.
