In 18 dysphagic stroke patients ( mean age : 66 3 years , 3 female , time-post-stroke : 63 15 weeks [ SD ] ) , pharyngeal electromyographic responses were recorded after single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation ( TMS ) over the pharyngeal motor cortex , to measure corticobulbar excitability before , immediately , and 30 min , after real and sham applications of neurostimulation .