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Primary Motor Cortex Excitability Is Modulated during the Mental Simulation of Hand Movement

Version 2 2024-06-06, 09:09
Version 1 2017-02-17, 14:22
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-06, 09:09 authored by Christian HydeChristian Hyde, Ian FuelscherIan Fuelscher, Jarrad LumJarrad Lum, J Williams, J He, Peter EnticottPeter Enticott
AbstractObjectives:It is unclear whether the primary motor cortex (PMC) is involved in the mental simulation of movement [i.e., motor imagery (MI)]. The present study aimed to clarify PMC involvement using a highly novel adaptation of the hand laterality task (HLT).Methods:Participants were administered single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the hand area of the left PMC (hPMC) at either 50 ms, 400 ms, or 650 ms post stimulus presentation. Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from the right first dorsal interosseous via electromyography. To avoid the confound of gross motor response, participant response (indicating left or right hand) was recorded via eye tracking. Participants were 22 healthy adults (18 to 36 years), 16 whose behavioral profile on the HLT was consistent with the use of a MI strategy (MI users).Results:hPMC excitability increased significantly during HLT performance for MI users, evidenced by significantly larger right hand MEPs following single-pulse TMS 50 ms, 400 ms, and 650 ms post stimulus presentation relative to baseline. Subsequent analysis showed that hPMC excitability was greater for more complex simulated hand movements, where hand MEPs at 50 ms were larger for biomechanically awkward movements (i.e., hands requiring lateral rotation) compared to simpler movements (i.e., hands requiring medial rotation).Conclusions:These findings provide support for the modulation of PMC excitability during the HLT attributable to MI, and may indicate a role for the PMC during MI. (JINS, 2017,23, 185–193)

History

Journal

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society

Volume

23

Pagination

185-193

Location

England

ISSN

1355-6177

eISSN

1469-7661

Language

English

Publication classification

C Journal article, C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2017, International Neuropsychological Society

Issue

2

Publisher

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS