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Combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Electroencephalography of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex
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Combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Electroencephalography of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

Published on: August 17, 2018

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Motor facilitation during observation of implied motion: Evidence for a role of the left dorsolateral prefrontal

Ludovico Mineo1, Alexander Fetterman2, Carmen Concerto1

  • 1Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences & Health Administration, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Seton Hall University, NJ, USA.

International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
|April 9, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) inhibited motor resonance during implied motion (IM) observation. This suggests the left DLPFC is crucial for understanding actions through motor resonance.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • Motor resonance, an increase in motor cortex excitability during action observation, is a known phenomenon.
  • Previous studies using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) indicated motor resonance during the perception of implied motion (IM).
  • The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is implicated in action observation, but its role in motor resonance to IM remained unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the left DLPFC in motor resonance during the observation of implied motion (IM).
  • To determine if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the left DLPFC modulates motor resonance to IM.

Main Methods:

  • Fourteen healthy participants underwent left DLPFC stimulation using tDCS with different polarities (anodal, cathodal, sham).
  • Motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude was recorded during the observation of images with and without IM.
  • The effect of tDCS polarity on MEP amplitude during IM observation was analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Cathodal tDCS over the left DLPFC significantly reduced or abolished motor resonance during IM observation.
  • Anodal and sham tDCS did not produce significant modulations in motor resonance to IM.
  • These findings highlight a specific role for the left DLPFC in processing IM.

Conclusions:

  • The left DLPFC is crucial for generating motor resonance during the perception of implied motion.
  • Action understanding likely involves the interaction of extensive neural networks, with the left DLPFC playing a key role.
  • These results contribute to understanding the neural underpinnings of action perception and motor resonance.
Keywords:
DLPFCImplied motionTranscranial magnetic stimulationtDCS

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