Table 3 TMS-specific components of methodological quality

 Age of subjects

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Gender of subjects

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Handedness of subjects

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Subjects prescribed medication

N

N

Y

N

 Use of CNS active drugs (e.g. anti-convulsants)

N

N

Y

Y

 Presence of neurological/psychiatric disorders

N

N

Y

Y

 Any medical conditions

N

N

Y

Y

 History of specific repetitive motor activity

N

N

Y

N

 Position and contact of EMG electrodes

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Amount of contraction of target muscles

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Prior motor activity of the muscle to be tested

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Relaxation of muscles other than those tested

N

N

N

N

 Coil type (size and geometry)

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Coil orientation

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Direction of induced current in the brain

Y

N

N

Y

 Coil location and stability

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Type of stimulator used (e.g. brand)

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Stimulation intensity

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Pulse shape (monophasic or biphasic)

N

N

N

Y

 Determination of optimal hotspot

Y

Y

Y

Y

 The time between MEP trials

N

N

N

Y

 Time between days of testing

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Subject attention (level of arousal) during testing

N

N

N

Y

 Method for determining threshold (active/resting)

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Number of MEP measures made

Y

Y

Y

Y

 Method for determining MEP size during analysis

Y

Y

Y

Y

Total score/26

17

16

21

23