Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
09:52
Measuring and Manipulating Functionally Specific Neural Pathways in the Human Motor System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: February 23, 2020
Distinct temporospatial interhemispheric interactions in the human primary and premotor cortex during movement
Gianpiero Liuzzi1, Vanessa Hörniss, Julia Hoppe
1Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|November 13, 2009
Summary
Movement preparation involves complex brain coordination. This study shows that the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) influences motor cortex (M1) earlier than primary motor areas interact during voluntary actions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Voluntary unimanual actions require sequential processing in bihemispheric motor areas.
- Dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) activity precedes primary motor cortex (M1) activity in the hemisphere controlling movement.
- Understanding interhemispheric interactions during action preparation is crucial for hierarchical motor control models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how right-hemispheric motor areas (rM1, rPMd) modulate the left primary motor cortex (lM1) during the preparation of a right-hand finger movement.
- To test the hypothesis that influences from the right dorsal premotor cortex to the left motor cortex (rPMd-lM1) precede interactions between homologous primary motor areas (rM1-lM1).
Main Methods:
- Utilized double-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to probe corticospinal excitability.
- Focused on the preparatory period of a voluntary unimanual finger movement using the dominant right hand.
- Measured modulation of left M1 by right M1 and right PMd.
Main Results:
- Right PMd influenced left M1 (rPMd-lM1) during both early and late phases of movement preparation.
- Inhibition between right and left M1 (rM1-lM1) was modulated only in the late phase of preparation.
- Demonstrated temporospatially distinct roles for PMd and M1 interhemispheric interactions.
Conclusions:
- The findings support hierarchical models of cortical motor control.
- Interhemispheric interactions from PMd and M1 are involved distinctly in time and space during movement preparation.
- This research clarifies the sequential processing within bihemispheric motor areas for voluntary action.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
01:23Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...