Beta electroencephalograph changes during passive movements: sensory afferences contribute to beta event-related desynchronization in humans

Non-phase-locked beta oscillatory changes during passive movements were studied in six healthy volunteers, and compared with those observed in a similar group during ballistic movements. Passive movements consisted of brisk wrist extensions done with the help of a pulley system. Changes in the beta band were determined by means of wavelet and Gabor transforms, and compared statistically with a pre-movement period. In this paradigm, a marked beta energy loss (event-related desynchronization, ERD) was present after the beginning of the movement, followed by a beta energy increase (event-related synchronization, ERS). The ERD/ERS was similar to that observed during ballistic movements, but without pre-movement components. Although both changes were maximal in the contralateral central electrode, the beta ERD showed a more bilateral topography. These findings suggest that afferent proprioceptive inputs may play a role in the final part of the beta ERD observed during voluntary movements.

[1]  V. Jousmäki,et al.  Modulation of Human Cortical Rolandic Rhythms during Natural Sensorimotor Tasks , 1997, NeuroImage.

[2]  G Pfurtscheller,et al.  Mechanical Stimulation of the Fingertip Can Induce Bursts of &bgr; Oscillations in Sensorimotor Areas , 2001, Journal of clinical neurophysiology : official publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society.

[3]  G. Pfurtscheller,et al.  Motor imagery activates primary sensorimotor area in humans , 1997, Neuroscience Letters.

[4]  S. Farmer,et al.  Rhythmicity, synchronization and binding in human and primate motor systems , 1998, The Journal of physiology.

[5]  L. Cohen,et al.  Time-frequency distributions-a review , 1989, Proc. IEEE.

[6]  R. Hari,et al.  Functional Segregation of Movement-Related Rhythmic Activity in the Human Brain , 1995, NeuroImage.

[7]  G. Pfurtscheller,et al.  Event-related desynchronisation of central beta-rhythms during brisk and slow self-paced finger movements of dominant and nondominant hand. , 1996, Brain research. Cognitive brain research.

[8]  A. Labarga,et al.  Gamma band activity in an auditory oddball paradigm studied with the wavelet transform , 2001, Clinical Neurophysiology.

[9]  J. Pernier,et al.  Stimulus Specificity of Phase-Locked and Non-Phase-Locked 40 Hz Visual Responses in Human , 1996, The Journal of Neuroscience.

[10]  H. Shibasaki,et al.  Movement-related change of electrocorticographic activity in human supplementary motor area proper. , 2000, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[11]  P. Derambure,et al.  Does post-movement beta synchronization reflect an idling motor cortex? , 2001, Neuroreport.

[12]  H. Jasper.  Report of the committee on methods of clinical examination in electroencephalography , 1958 .

[13]  M. Hallett,et al.  Event-related desynchronization in reaction time paradigms: a comparison with event-related potentials and corticospinal excitability , 2001, Clinical Neurophysiology.

[14]  Gert Pfurtscheller,et al.  Desynchronization and recovery of β rhythms during brisk and slow self-paced finger movements in man , 1995, Neuroscience Letters.

[15]  W. Singer.  Synchronization of cortical activity and its putative role in information processing and learning. , 1993, Annual review of physiology.

[16]  G. Pfurtscheller,et al.  Post-movement beta synchronization. A correlate of an idling motor area? , 1996, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[17]  V. Jousmäki,et al.  Involvement of Primary Motor Cortex in Motor Imagery: A Neuromagnetic Study , 1997, NeuroImage.