Promoting plasticity in the somatosensory cortex to alter motor physiology

Somatosensory pathways and cortices contribute to the control of human movement. In humans, non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques to promote plasticity within somatosensory pathways and cortices have revealed potent effects on the neurophysiology within motor cortices. In this mini-review, we present evidence to indicate that somatosensory cortex is positioned to influence motor cortical circuits and as such, is an ideal target for plasticity approaches that aim to alter motor physiology and behavior in clinical populations.