Stimulation of the motor cortex and corticospinal tract to assess human muscle fatigue

► Muscle fatigue can originate at different levels of the corticomotor tract. ► TMS is useful in detecting the presence of supraspinal muscle fatigue. ► Changes in corticospinal excitability with fatigue are task-dependant. ► The link between supraspinal fatigue and cortical excitability has to be clarified. ► TMS must be combined with other techniques to assess the origins of muscle fatigue.