Neural activities behind the influence of sensorimotor incongruence on dysesthesia and motor control

Sensorimotor incongruence (SMI) is associated with pathological pain, such as phantom limb pain. Additionally, patients with pathological pain and brain dysfunction typically present with movement disorders, including diminished voluntary control and increased variability in bimanual movement performance. In healthy subjects, SMI leads to dysesthesia and bimanual movement motor dysfunction. However, the brain localization of this activity remains unclear, particularly in SMI-induced dysesthesia and decrease in movement accuracy. In this study, 17 healthy participants were asked to perform repetitive flexion/extension exercises with their wrists in a congruent/incongruent position while viewing the activity in a mirror. Indeed, SMI induced dysesthesia and decreased bimanual movement accuracy. Moreover, beta band activities of the bilateral presupplementary (P < 0.01) and bilateral cingulate (P < 0.05) motor areas were decreased. Collectively, our findings indicate that SMI induces dysesthesia and movement disorders and reduces beta band activities in motor-related areas.