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Coordinate processing during the left-to-right hand transfer investigated by EEG
Regine K Lange1, Christoph Braun, Ben Godde
1Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Experimental Brain Research
|December 6, 2005
Summary
Coordinate transformation for visuomotor tasks during intermanual transfer primarily involves extrinsic, object-centered coordinates. This process, linked to movement execution, shows increased interhemispheric communication, particularly via the corpus callosum.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Visuomotor tasks rely on both extrinsic (object-centered) and intrinsic (body-related) coordinate systems.
- Transferring trained tasks to the opposite hand (intermanual transfer) requires transforming these coordinate systems.
- Previous research suggests coordinate transformation during right-to-left hand transfer is linked to movement preparation and the left hemisphere.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural correlates of coordinate transformation during left-to-right hand transfer of a learned visuomotor task.
- To differentiate between coordinate processing and hand-specific effects using electroencephalography (EEG).
- To determine which coordinate system (extrinsic or intrinsic) is primarily transformed during intermanual transfer.
Main Methods:
- Recorded movement-related potentials, EEG power, and EEG coherence during a drawing task.
- Compared a learned task by the left hand with its execution in original and mirror orientation by the right hand.
- Analyzed EEG data specifically for differences between the normal and mirror orientation tasks to isolate coordinate transformation effects.
Main Results:
- Beta band EEG coherence increased significantly between hemispheres and within parieto-frontal electrode pairs during the mirror-orientation task (left-to-right transfer).
- No significant differences were found between the normal-orientation task and the original learned task in EEG parameters.
- Behavioral improvements were observed in all tasks after initial left-hand training.
Conclusions:
- Coordinate transformation during left-to-right hand transfer occurs during movement execution and primarily affects extrinsic coordinates.
- Intrinsic coordinates appear to be used largely in their original form during this transfer.
- Enhanced interhemispheric communication, likely mediated by the corpus callosum, accompanies the modification of extrinsic coordinates.