Cortico-striatal activity associated with fidget spinner use: an fMRI study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Motor Control Research
• Pediatric Neuroimaging

Background:

• Fidget spinners are popular toys claimed to aid attention and motor control in children with ADHD.
• Limited scientific evidence and neurobiological data exist regarding fidget spinner effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural correlates of fidget spinner rotation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• To explore how varying ease of rotation affects brain activation patterns.

Main Methods:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to monitor brain activity during fidget spinner rotation.
• Participants used non-magnetic fidget spinners with five distinct levels of rotational ease.
• Psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis examined functional connectivity between brain regions.

Main Results:

• Rotation of fidget spinners activated key motor areas including the pre/postcentral gyrus, supplementary motor area (SMA), cerebellum, and striatum.
• Increased SMA activation was observed with spinners that were easier to rotate.
• Enhanced functional connectivity between the SMA and the caudate nucleus was detected during spinning compared to holding.

Conclusions:

• Fidget spinner use engages brain circuits crucial for fine motor control, planning, and reward processing.
• The supplementary motor area and cortico-striatal pathways play a significant role in the motor behavior associated with fidget spinner manipulation.