The Bereitschaftspotential in Voluntary Movement and Movement Disorders: Potential, Limitations and New Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Neurophysiology

Background:

• The Bereitschaftspotential (BP) is a key neurophysiological marker for human voluntary action, originating from motor and premotor cortical areas.
• It plays a role in understanding motor planning, volition, and movement initiation, with applications in movement disorders and neurorehabilitation.
• Current challenges include variability in BP characteristics based on movement type and location, and methodological inconsistencies hindering clinical interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current evidence on the morphology, spatial distribution, and generators of the BP in healthy individuals and patients with movement disorders.
• To examine methodological factors influencing BP acquisition and interpretation.
• To discuss the BP's relationship with cerebello-thalamo-cortical and basal ganglia networks.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing existing research on the Bereitschaftspotential.
• Analysis of BP characteristics in healthy subjects and patients with movement disorders.
• Examination of methodological factors and network interactions relevant to BP interpretation.

Main Results:

• The BP's morphology and spatial distribution are influenced by movement specifics and methodological choices.
• The BP's interpretation is linked to the functioning of cerebello-thalamo-cortical and basal ganglia networks.
• Variability in BP studies limits direct clinical comparability and interpretability.

Conclusions:

• A refined framework is proposed for interpreting the BP as a dynamic, network-dependent marker of voluntary motor control.
• This framework aims to enhance understanding of movement disorders and improve the translational utility of the BP.
• Integrating physiological, clinical, and methodological insights is crucial for advancing BP research and application.