Reduced plastic brain responses to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Individuals with OSAS demonstrated increased motor cortex inhibition, which did not respond to 10-Hz rTMS. As rTMS-induced changes in MEP and CSP involve a separate neurotransmitter system (N-methyl-d-aspartate [NMDA] and gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA], respectively), these findings suggest a widespread alteration in cortical neurophysiology in severe OSAS subjects that requires clarification with further exploration.