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Brain State-dependent Brain Stimulation with Real-time Electroencephalography-Triggered Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

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Voluntary Motor Command Release Coincides with Restricted Sensorimotor Beta Rhythm Phases.

Sara J Hussain^1,2, Mary K Vollmer², Iñaki Iturrate^2,3

¹Movement and Cognitive Rehabilitation Science Program, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712 sara.hussain@austin.utexas.edu.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience

|June 14, 2022

Summary

Voluntary movement timing is influenced by brain rhythms. Motor commands are preferentially released during specific phases of the contralateral sensorimotor beta rhythm, suggesting a role in voluntary human movement control.

Keywords:

electroencephalography motor movement oscillations sensorimotor rhythms

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Motor Control
Brain Rhythms

Background:

Sensory perception and memory are enhanced during specific brain rhythm phases.
The influence of brain rhythm phase on voluntary movement timing is not well understood.
Voluntary movement relies on motor commands from the motor cortex (M1) to spinal motoneurons.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether voluntary movement timing is constrained by sensorimotor brain rhythm phases.
To test the hypothesis that motor commands are preferentially released from M1 during specific phases of ongoing sensorimotor rhythms.

Main Methods:

Healthy human participants performed a self-paced finger movement task.
Electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) were used to record brain and muscle activity.
Motor command release times were estimated by combining EMG-onset data with measured corticomuscular transmission latencies.

Main Results:

Motor commands were preferentially released during a specific phase (120-140°) of the contralateral sensorimotor beta rhythm (13-35 Hz).
Motor command release was uniformly distributed across phases for the contralateral mu rhythm (8-12 Hz) and ipsilateral rhythms.
This suggests a phase-dependent release of motor commands from the motor cortex.

Conclusions:

Motor command release is timed to specific phases of the contralateral sensorimotor beta rhythm.
Sensorimotor beta rhythm phase appears to play a role in sculpting the timing of voluntary human movement.
These findings extend the understanding of how brain oscillations influence motor control.