Dynamics of sensorimotor-related brain oscillations: EEG insights from healthy individuals in varied upper limb...

Event-related desynchronization (ERD) and event-related synchronization (ERS) are critical neurophysiological phenomena associated with motor execution and inhibitory processes. Their utility spans neurophysiological biomarker research and Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) development. However, standardized frameworks for analyzing ERD and ERS oscillations across motor tasks and frequency ranges remain scarce. This study conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 76 healthy participants from the DEFINE cohort to explore ERD and ERS variations across four motor-related tasks (Motor Execution, Motor Imagery, Active Observation, and Passive Observation) and six frequency bands (Delta, Theta, Low Alpha, High Alpha, Low Beta, and High Beta) using C3 electrode activity. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed task-sensitive ERD and ERS power modulations, with oscillatory responses spanning the 1-30 Hz spectrum. Beta activity exhibited pronounced differences between tasks, highlighting its relevance in motor control, while other bands showed distinct task-dependent variations. These findings underscore the variability in ERD/ERS patterns across different tasks and frequency bands, reinforcing the importance of further research into standardized analytical frameworks. By refining ERD/ERS analyses, our study contributes to developing reference frameworks that can enhance clinical and Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) applications.