Phasic and tonic responses of premotor and primary motor cortex neurons to torque changes

Responses to torque step perturbation of the wrist were compared in premotor area (PMA) and motor cortex (MI) neurons of the monkey. A substantial portion (39%) of cells recorded from the PMA had phasic responses with onset latencies as short as those found in MI (mostly between 15 and 50 ms). Responsiveness to small perturbations, directional specificity and linear correlation of phasic responses with the velocity of displacement are properties that were essentially present in the PMA. A role of somatosensory feedback to the PMA in accurate and fast up-dating of movement is suggested. Tonically sustained responses to torque change (mean latency around 60 ms) were encountered in both areas and preferentially in neurons that had a monotonic load-relationship under steady-state condition. Such cortical responses did not exhibit reflex-like features, i.e. no correlation with amplitude of torque step and resulting displacement. Instead, the new load condition seemed to be represented by the tonic response of any particular neuron in accordance with its individual firing rate-load characteristics. These tonic cortical responses may be involved in the swift and effective adaptation to the actual load.