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The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) mediates anticipatory motor control
Vanessa Krause1, Juliane Weber1, Bettina Pollok1
1Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Medical Faculty, Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany.
Brain Stimulation
|September 14, 2014
Summary
The left posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is crucial for anticipatory motor control. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left PPC causally impacts motor anticipation, supporting its role beyond basic motor execution.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Flexible and precisely timed motor control relies on cortico-subcortical networks.
- The left posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is hypothesized to be key for anticipatory motor control via sensorimotor feedback matching.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a causal link between the left PPC and anticipatory motor control.
- To investigate the specific role of the left PPC in motor anticipation using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
Main Methods:
- Anodal and cathodal tDCS were applied over the left PPC in 16 participants.
- Control tDCS was applied over the left primary motor cortex (M1) in 15 participants.
- Participants performed sensorimotor synchronization, interval reproduction, and simple reaction tasks before and after tDCS.
Main Results:
- Left PPC tDCS modulated right-hand synchronization, impacting motor anticipation.
- Anodal tDCS over the left PPC impaired motor anticipation, while cathodal tDCS improved it.
- M1 tDCS affected interval reproduction variability, but not simple reaction times or motor anticipation.
Conclusions:
- The left PPC plays a causal role in right-hand anticipatory motor control.
- These findings suggest the left PPC's involvement extends beyond motor implementation processed by M1.
- The effects observed are unlikely due to alterations in motor-cortical excitability.
Keywords:
Anticipatory motor controlPosterior parietal cortex (PPC)Primary motor cortex (M1)ReactionSensorimotor synchronizationTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)More Related Videos
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