Behavioural and Electrophysiological Effects of rTMS in Functional Neurological Disorders

This study seeks to improve our neurophysiological understanding of Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) by measuring movement timing and brain activity while individuals with FND perform a simple pointing task.

Behavioural (timing of arm and finger movement) and electrophysiological (electroencephalography; EEG) measures will be collected both at rest and while participants perform a voluntary movement task designed to discriminate between brain events related to intention vs. overt action.

Furthermore, this study will investigate the ability of a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to alter brain activity in the temporal-occipital-parietal junction (TPJ), a region known to be hypo-active in individuals with FND. Tasks and cortical recordings will be repeated following rTMS to determine the effect of brain stimulation on behaviour and brain activity.

Inclusion criteria

• Confirmed diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder with motor symptoms.

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of another comorbid psychiatric disorder;
• Any contraindication for rTMS (e.g., implanted metal devices; cardiac pacemaker or pacemaker wires; neurostimulators; implanted pumps, metal in the body [rods, plates, screws, shrapnel, dentures, IUD] or metallic particles in the body, surgical clips in the head, previous neurosurgery, cochlear implants, prosthetic heart valves);
• Currently pregnant.