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Published on: September 11, 2017
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Cardiac cycle modulates alpha and beta suppression during motor imagery
Giuseppe Lai1, David Landi2, Carmen Vidaurre3,4,5
1Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross London SE14 6NW, UK.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|November 23, 2024
Summary
Motor imagery performance and muscle activity are enhanced during the cardiac diastole phase. This suggests optimizing timing for motor imagery-based assistive technologies by leveraging the cardiac cycle.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
- Motor Control
Background:
- Sensory processing is reduced during cardiac systole, potentially due to baroreceptor activity.
- Cortical excitability is diminished during systole, impacting neural processing.
- The cardiac cycle's influence on sensorimotor activity requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how cardiac cycle phases (systole and diastole) modulate neural sensorimotor activity during motor imagery (MI) and motor execution (ME).
- To determine if motor imagery performance is enhanced during diastole due to improved sensory processing.
- To examine if cardiac phases influence muscle activity during movement.
Main Methods:
- 29 participants performed or imagined thumb abductions.
- Electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and electromyogram (EMG) were recorded.
- Circular statistics were used to analyze cardiac timing effects.
Main Results:
- Motor imagery during diastole showed significantly greater suppression of sensorimotor alpha and beta activity.
- No significant cardiac timing effects were observed during motor execution.
- Diastole was associated with increased EMG activity for both actual and imagined movements.
Conclusions:
- Motor imagery performance is optimal during cardiac diastole, linked to enhanced sensorimotor cortical activity.
- Cardiac phase influences muscle activity, with diastole showing greater potentiation.
- Findings suggest potential for timing-based enhancements in motor imagery-based assistive technologies.
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