Functional MRI comparison of passive and active movement: possible inhibitory role of supplementary motor area

Recent studies have hypothesized that the supplementary motor area plays a role in motor inhibition. To study this possible role, we used functional MRI study to compare conditions, which require various level of inhibition of motor patterns. Seventeen healthy participants were scanned while executing - actively or passively - rhythmic opening/closing movements of their right hand, with and without congruent visual information. The contrast passive>active movement in the visual guidance condition which requires inhibition in order 'not' to perform the movement, yields to significant activation of areas commonly involved in the inhibitory brain circuitry among which, notably, controlateral supplementary motor area.