Proximal Upper Limb Sensorimotor Integration in Response to Novel Motor Skill Acquisition
Sinead O'Brien1, Danielle Andrew1, Mahboobeh Zabihhosseinian1
1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe St. North, Oshawa, ON L1H 7K4, Canada.
Brain Sciences
|August 27, 2020
Summary
Novel motor training of proximal upper-limb muscles significantly altered early somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). This suggests SEPs can track neuroplasticity in shoulder and arm muscles after acquiring new motor skills.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Previous research focused on distal upper-limb motor training and evoked potentials.
- Proximal upper-limb muscles are susceptible to work-related injuries from repetitive movements.
- Neurophysiological changes in proximal muscles after motor tasks remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a novel motor skill acquisition task on neural processing in proximal upper-limb muscles.
- To measure changes in short-latency median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) following motor training.
- To assess the sensitivity of SEPs to neuroplasticity in proximal muscle sensorimotor integration.
Main Methods:
- A group of 12 participants underwent a novel motor training task involving tracing a sinusoidal waveform using glenohumeral rotation.
- Baseline, pre-test, and post-test somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded.
- A mental recitation task served as a control condition.
Main Results:
- Participants demonstrated significant improvements in task accuracy, confirming motor learning.
- Significant alterations were observed in multiple SEP peaks (N11, N13, N20, N24, P25, N30) post-training.
- These findings indicate neurophysiological changes in response to proximal upper-limb motor skill acquisition.
Conclusions:
- Early somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) are sensitive indicators of neuroplasticity.
- SEP changes reflect alterations in sensorimotor integration following novel motor skill acquisition in proximal upper-limb muscles.
- This research offers insights into neurophysiological adaptations relevant to occupational movements.
