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Timing function of the frontal cortex in sequential motor and learning tasks.

L Deecke, H H Kornhuber, W Lang

    Human Neurobiology
    |January 1, 1985
    PubMed
    Summary

    The supplementary motor area (SMA) initiates voluntary movements by determining their timing, challenging the notion of primary motor cortex control. Frontal lobe functions, including motivation, are decentralized and involve sub-regions for specific tasks.

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    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Cognitive Neuroscience
    • Motor Control

    Background:

    • Human frontal lobe function, particularly timing aspects, is complex.
    • Movement-related cerebral potentials provide insights into motor control.
    • Previous models often oversimplified the role of the primary motor cortex.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the timing functions of the human frontal lobe.
    • To explore the role of the supplementary motor area (SMA) in movement initiation.
    • To differentiate subfunctions of frontal lobe motivation.

    Main Methods:

    • Three experiments involving sequential tracking, motor learning, and hemispheric specialization tasks.
    • Analysis of movement-related cerebral potentials, including the Bereitschaftspotential (BP).

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparison of brain activity during self-initiated vs. externally triggered movements.

    • Main Results:

    • The Bereitschaftspotential (BP) preceding voluntary movement is consistently maximal over the SMA, regardless of movement type or location.
    • The SMA appears to determine the initiation timing for all voluntary movements, indicating a decentralized motor system.
    • Different frontal lobe regions are involved in distinct motivational subfunctions: 'what to do,' 'how to do,' and 'when to do.'

    Conclusions:

    • The SMA plays a crucial role in deciding the timing of voluntary movements.
    • Frontal lobe motivation is not monolithic but comprises specialized subfunctions.
    • The motor system is widely decentralized, with the SMA acting as a central timing mechanism.