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Updated: May 15, 2026

Measuring and Manipulating Functionally Specific Neural Pathways in the Human Motor System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: February 23, 2020
Muscle and timing-specific functional connectivity between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the primary motor
Alkomiet Hasan1, Joseph M Galea, Elias P Casula
1University College London, London, UK. alkomiet.hasan@med.uni-muenchen.de
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) interacts with the primary motor cortex (M1) during voluntary movement selection. These interactions are time- and location-specific, depending on the task and muscle involved.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Motor Control
Background:
- The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is vital for cognitive control and executive functions.
- Previous research suggests functional connectivity between DLPFC and primary motor cortex (M1) during choice selection tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the precise timing and specificity of the functional interaction between the human left DLPFC and ipsilateral M1.
- To differentiate DLPFC-M1 interactions during free versus instructed choice selection.
Main Methods:
- Utilized twin coil, neuronavigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
- Examined the excitability of M1 in response to DLPFC stimulation during a free/specified choice selection task.
- Investigated both task-involved and non-involved muscles.
Main Results:
- DLPFC stimulation modulated M1 excitability differently at 75 msec and 100 msec post-cue, depending on selection type (free vs. specified) in a non-task muscle.
- This difference disappeared in a task-specific muscle, indicating dominance of task involvement over selection mode.
- Effects were spatially specific, absent when stimulating adjacent DLPFC areas.
Conclusions:
- Revealed temporally and spatially selective interactions between BA 46 (DLPFC) and M1.
- Demonstrated that these interactions are specific to the task and the muscle involved in movement execution.
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