Enhanced Brain Network Activity in Complex Movement Rhythms: A Simultaneous Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and
Bhim M Adhikari1,2, Charles M Epstein3, Mukesh Dhamala1,4,5,6,7
11 Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University , Atlanta, Georgia .
Brain Connectivity
|December 12, 2017
Summary
Movement rhythm complexity involves motor cortex and cerebellum networks. Beta band brainwave activity in the supplementary motor area and primary motor cortex shows complex rhythmic interactions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Brain Networks
Background:
- Movement rhythm generation engages distributed brain regions for motor planning, control, execution, and timing perception.
- The specific brain areas involved and how network activity changes with rhythmic complexity remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural network underlying movement rhythm complexity.
- To explore how rhythmic complexity modulates brain activity and interactions.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) recordings were used.
- Nine healthy participants performed simple to complex rhythmic finger movements during fMRI-EEG.
Main Results:
- fMRI revealed rhythm complexity correlated with activations in the primary motor cortex (PMC), supplementary motor area (SMA), and cerebellum (Cb), and cortical-cerebellar network interactions.
- EEG spectral analysis showed bidirectional interactions between PMC and SMA.
- Rhythmic complexity was associated with power and Granger causality spectra in the beta (13-30 Hz) band, but not alpha or gamma bands.
Conclusions:
- Movement rhythm complexity is associated with specific cortical and cerebellar activations and interactions.
- Beta band oscillations play a crucial role in modulating neural activity related to movement rhythm complexity between PMC and SMA.
