Differential changes in early somatosensory evoked potentials between the dominant and non-dominant hand, following a novel motor tracing task

During training in a novel dynamic environment, the non-dominant upper limb favors feedback control, whereas the dominant limb favors feedforward mechanisms. Early somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) offer a means to explore differences in cortical regions involved in sensorimotor integration (SMI). This study sought to compare differences in SMI between the right (Dom) and left (Non-Dom) hand in healthy right-handed participants. SEPs were recorded in response to median nerve stimulation, at baseline and post, a motor skill acquisition-tracing task. One group (n = 12) trained with their Dom hand and the other group (n = 12), with their Non-Dom hand. The Non-Dom hand was significantly more accurate at baseline (p < 0.0001) and both groups improved with time (p < 0.0001), for task accuracy, with no significant interaction effect between groups for both post-acquisition and retention. There were significant group interactions for the N24 (p < 0.001) and the N30 (p < 0.0001) SEP peaks. Post motor acquisition, the Dom hand had a 28.9% decrease in the N24 and a 23.8% increase in the N30, with opposite directional changes for the Non-Dom hand; 22.04% increase in N24 and 24% decrease in the N30. These SEP changes reveal differences in early SMI between Dom and Non-Dom hands in response to motor acquisition, providing objective, temporally sensitive measures of differences in neural mechanisms between the limbs.