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Continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) represents a promising approach in the treatment of neglect syndrome. However, it is not known whether cTBS in conjunction with another technique may enhance the therapeutic effects. In the present sham-controlled study, we aimed to combine cTBS with smooth pursuit training (SPT), another method known to effectively improve neglect symptoms, and to evaluate whether this combination would result in a stronger effect than SPT alone. Eighteen patients with left spatial neglect after right-hemispheric stroke were included in the study and performed a cancellation task on a large 54.6″ touchscreen monitor. A sequential application of cTBS and SPT induced a significantly greater improvement of neglect than SPT alone. After the combined application of these two methods, patients detected significantly more targets and their cancellation behaviour presented a significantly greater shift towards the contralesional hemispace. We suggest that a combined, sequential application of cTBS and SPT is a promising new approach to treat neglect.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.10.018

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neuropsychologia

Publication Date

07/2015

Volume

74

Pages

145 - 151

Keywords

Cancellation task, Continuous theta burst simulation, Pursuit training, Spatial neglect, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Analysis of Variance, Female, Functional Laterality, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Perceptual Disorders, Psychomotor Performance, Pursuit, Smooth, Stroke, Theta Rhythm, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation