Propagating spatiotemporal activity patterns across macaque motor cortex carry kinematic information
Wei Liang1,2, Karthikeyan Balasubramanian2, Vasileios Papadourakis2
1Committee on Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637.
Summary
Neural propagation direction in the motor cortex predicts upcoming movement direction. This finding enhances understanding of brain signals for brain-machine interfaces.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
- Motor Control
Background:
- Spatiotemporal neural patterns propagate across cortical areas.
- The link between neural propagation characteristics and specific behavioral details is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the direction of cortical neural propagation predicts specific behavioral features of upcoming movements.
- To explore the potential of mesoscopic spatiotemporal characteristics for refining brain-machine interfaces.
Main Methods:
- Recorded local field potentials (LFPs) from the primary motor cortex of rhesus macaques during a 2D reach task.
- Extracted propagating patterns from high-gamma band (200-400 Hz) LFP amplitude envelopes.
Main Results:
- The direction of propagating neural patterns systematically varied with the initial movement direction.
- These propagation patterns enabled accurate kinematic predictions of movement.
- Propagation pattern characteristics offered predictive power beyond LFP amplitude alone.
Conclusions:
- The direction of cortical propagation contains specific information about upcoming movement features.
- Mesoscopic spatiotemporal neural characteristics are valuable for improving brain-machine interface performance.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Propagation of Action Potentials
6.3K
The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...
6.3K
01:31Action Potential
8.1K
Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they...
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they...
8.1K
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
4.2K
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
4.2K