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Voluntary Inhibition of Physiological Mirror Activity: An EEG-EMG Study.
T Maudrich1,2, R Kenville3,2, D Maudrich3
1Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig D-04103, Germany maudrich@cbs.mpg.de.
Eneuro
|October 15, 2020
Summary
Healthy adults can voluntarily inhibit physiological mirror activity (pMA), an involuntary muscle co-activation. This suppression is linked to increased frontal delta (δ) brain wave activity, suggesting executive control over unintentional movements.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Physiological mirror activity (pMA) is the involuntary co-activation of muscles on one side of the body during unilateral limb movements in healthy adults.
- Understanding the neural mechanisms and potential for voluntary control of pMA is crucial for neurorehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether physiological mirror activity (pMA) can be voluntarily inhibited in healthy adults.
- To explore the neural correlates, specifically electroencephalography (EEG) signals, associated with the voluntary inhibition of pMA.
- To establish a baseline for potential therapeutic interventions targeting involuntary movements.
Main Methods:
- Electromyography (EMG) was used to measure neuromuscular activity during unilateral isometric hand muscle contractions.
- Participants (10 male, 10 female) were informed about pMA and its mechanisms.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) recorded brain activity, focusing on frontal δ power, during the task.
Main Results:
- Participants successfully and voluntarily inhibited pMA immediately after instruction, without feedback or specific training.
- A significant increase in relative frontal δ power was observed concurrently with the suppression of pMA.
- An inverse correlation was found between pMA amplitude and frontal δ power during the inhibition phase.
Conclusions:
- Frontal δ power may indicate executive processes involved in exerting inhibitory control over unintentional motor output like pMA.
- These findings provide a foundation for developing therapies to suppress pMA in conditions like aging or neurorehabilitation to prevent undesirable movements.
