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Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation
Published on: December 31, 2013
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Distinct Beta-band Oscillatory Circuits Underlie Corticospinal Gain Modulation
Fatemeh Khademi1, Vladimir Royter1, Alireza Gharabaghi1
1Division of Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery, and Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|February 8, 2018
Summary
Neural oscillations in the motor cortex modulate brain activity. This study found that beta-band oscillations intrinsically control neuronal responsiveness in distinct motor circuits, occurring once per cycle.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Brain Oscillations
Background:
- Neuronal synchronization influences brain activity, particularly in the motor system where oscillations modulate corticospinal excitability.
- Previous studies on phase-specific gain modulation in the motor system yielded conflicting results, leaving questions about the number of responsive windows per cycle and intrinsic cortical modulation.
- It is unclear if the motor cortex exhibits intrinsic response modulation along the rhythm cycle, similar to spinal neurons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate intrinsic response modulation in the human motor cortex along the oscillatory cycle.
- To determine if the motor cortex exhibits phase-specific gain modulation, independent of oscillatory power.
- To identify specific frequency bands and circuits involved in this modulation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the primary motor cortex at rest.
- Applied near-motor threshold stimuli to assess corticospinal excitability.
- Analyzed frequency- and phase-specific modulation at cortical and spinal levels.
Main Results:
- Discovered frequency- and phase-specific gain modulation at both cortical and spinal levels, independent of spontaneous oscillatory power.
- Identified bilateral sensorimotor circuits modulated in the lower beta-band (14–17 Hz).
- Detected unilateral corticospinal circuits modulated in the upper beta-band (20–24 Hz).
- Found increased neuronal responsiveness occurred once per oscillatory beta cycle, suggesting intrinsic modulation.
Conclusions:
- The human motor cortex intrinsically modulates input gain along the beta oscillatory cycle within distinct circuits.
- This modulation is frequency- and phase-specific and occurs independently of oscillatory power.
- Findings suggest periodic alternations in neuronal responsiveness, offering potential for targeted neuromodulation strategies.
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