Frontal connectivity dynamics encode contextual information during action preparation
Eleonora Arrigoni1, Giacomo Guidali1, Nadia Bolognini2
1Department of Psychology and Milan Center for Neuroscience - NeuroMI, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
Neuroimage
|April 25, 2026
Summary
Brain network connectivity in the supplementary motor area (SMA) and right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) adapts to contextual demands during action preparation and execution, influencing motor control and inhibition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Motor Control
Background:
- Motor behavior is flexible and modulated by contextual cues, relying on premotor and prefrontal networks like the supplementary motor area (SMA) and right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG).
- The precise network dynamics within these regions during action preparation and execution under varying contextual demands are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how interareal connectivity within the SMA and rIFG encodes contextual information during action preparation and execution.
- To elucidate the role of α- and β-band oscillatory dynamics in context-sensitive motor control and inhibition.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) during Go/No-Go tasks with manipulated target probabilities.
- Analyzed interareal connectivity patterns in the α- and β-bands between SMA and rIFG during different task phases.
Main Results:
- Contextual information was encoded in SMA and rIFG connectivity before action onset.
- Increased α-band connectivity was observed in the rIFG when responses were frequently withheld, while SMA showed a reversed pattern near target onset.
- β-band connectivity increased during proactive inhibition (low action likelihood) and response withholding, supporting its role in inhibitory control.
Conclusions:
- α- and β-band oscillatory network dynamics enable context-sensitive adaptations in motor control by modulating interactions between premotor and prefrontal regions.
- Brain connectivity dynamically encodes predictive information, guiding the organization of motor and cognitive resources for context-appropriate actions.
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