Transition from rest to movement: brain correlates revealed by functional connectivity

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Resting-state networks (RSNs) are crucial for brain function, but their interactions during behavioral transitions remain unclear.
• Understanding how RSNs shift from rest to action is fundamental to cognitive neuroscience.
• The default-mode network (DMN) is active during rest, while the sensorimotor network (SMN) is involved in movement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the functional connectivity between the DMN and SMN during the transition from rest to movement readiness.
• To explore the neural mechanisms underlying the readiness state for intended hand movement using functional MRI (fMRI).

Main Methods:

• Functional MRI (fMRI) was employed to measure brain activity.
• Analysis focused on functional connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (PCC/Pcu) of the DMN and sensorimotor regions.
• The study specifically examined the 'movement-readiness' state, distinct from rapid movement preparation.

Main Results:

• During rest, the DMN and SMN showed no significant functional correlation.
• In the movement-readiness state, functional connectivity emerged between the DMN (PCC/Pcu) and the SMN via the medial superior parietal cortex.
• The anterior cingulum also showed functional correlation with the primary sensorimotor cortex during movement readiness.

Conclusions:

• The PCC/Pcu plays a key role in movement readiness by potentially retrieving spatial parameters for motor imagery and programming.
• Functional coupling between the DMN and SMN facilitates the transition from a resting state to a movement-ready state.
• The anterior cingulum may contribute a motivational or predictive role in movement initiation.