Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation interrupts phase synchronization during rhythmic motor entrainment

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Auditory-motor integration
• Motor control

Background:

• Rhythmic auditory stimuli enhance motor control, particularly after impairment.
• Auditory-motor synchronization involves precise timing between auditory cues and motor responses.
• Neural underpinnings of auditory-motor synchronization, especially the roles of specific brain regions, require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the necessity of left ventral premotor cortex (vPMC) and left superior temporal-parietal (STP) for rhythmic auditory-motor synchronization.
• To differentiate the neural substrates for phase and period synchronization in auditory-motor tasks.

Main Methods:

• 15 healthy participants performed a rhythmic auditory tapping task.
• Subthreshold repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was applied to the left vPMC and left STP.
• Phase synchronization error and absolute period error were measured before and after rTMS.

Main Results:

• rTMS to the left STP significantly increased phase synchronization error compared to baseline.
• rTMS to the left vPMC showed a non-significant increase in phase synchronization error.
• Neither rTMS intervention affected absolute period error.

Conclusions:

• The left STP is crucial for accurate phase synchronization in rhythmic auditory-motor tasks.
• Phase and period synchronization appear to be distinct neural processes mediated by different brain networks.
• Findings suggest the STP is a key component of the neural network supporting auditory-motor synchronization.