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Alloisio S, Mennella C, Viti F, Novellino A, Tognon S. Innovative Quantitative Assessment of Hand Function in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Hand (N Y) 2023; 18:77S-83S. [PMID: 35189723 PMCID: PMC9896292 DOI: 10.1177/15589447221075675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) compromises fine sensorimotor function during activities of daily living and affects a large number of individuals with high burden costs for society. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively characterize fine movement skills in CTS patients preoperatively and at 1 month postoperatively by means of a sensor-engineered glove, in order to provide new insights for evaluative and finally therapeutic purposes. METHODS Forty-one CTS patients and 41 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HC) were analyzed by adopting the engineered glove Hand Test System (HTS), which previously demonstrated its reliability and sensitivity to detect hands dysfunction in several neurological diseases. A sub-group of 11 CTS subjects was re-tested 1 month after surgery. Three parameters-touch duration (TD), inter-tapping interval (ITI), and movement rate (MR)-were considered to characterize hand function. RESULTS The affected hand of CTS patients generally showed worst finger opposition performances than HC. Comparing the dominant hand, all parameters were able to significantly discriminate CTS patients from HC. Considering the nondominant hand, the best performing parameter in discriminating CTS from HC was TD. The follow-up assessment at 1 month after surgery showed that considered parameters were able to monitor patients' recovery. In particular, the TD parameter recorded at the 3 different assigned task modalities resulted significantly enhanced. CONCLUSIONS Results of this pilot study proved the validity of the parameters obtained through the sensor-engineered glove to assess objectively hand functional status and surgical outcomes in CTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Alloisio
- Institute of Biophysics, National
Research Council, Genova, Italy
- ETT S.p.A., Genova, Italy
| | - Ciro Mennella
- Institute of Biophysics, National
Research Council, Genova, Italy
| | - Federica Viti
- Institute of Biophysics, National
Research Council, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Tognon
- Hand Surgery Unit of Cittadella
Socio-Sanitaria di Cavarzere, Cavarzere, Italy
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Effect of a Proprioceptive Exercise Program on Force Sense for Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis. TOPICS IN GERIATRIC REHABILITATION 2021. [DOI: 10.1097/tgr.0000000000000336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Bortoletto M, Bonzano L, Zazio A, Ferrari C, Pedullà L, Gasparotti R, Miniussi C, Bove M. Asymmetric transcallosal conduction delay leads to finer bimanual coordination. Brain Stimul 2021; 14:379-388. [PMID: 33578035 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been theorized that hemispheric dominance and more segregated information processing have evolved to overcome long conduction delays through the corpus callosum (transcallosal conduction delay - TCD) but that this may still impact behavioral performance, mostly in tasks requiring high timing accuracy. Nevertheless, a thorough understanding of the temporal features of interhemispheric communication is lacking. Here, we aimed to assess the relationship between TCD and behavioral performance with a noninvasive directional cortical measure of TCD obtained from transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-evoked potentials (TEPs) in the motor system. Twenty-one healthy right-handed subjects were tested. TEPs were recorded during an ipsilateral silent period (iSP) paradigm and integrated with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and an in-phase bimanual thumb-opposition task. Linear mixed models were applied to test relationships between measures. We found TEP indexes of transcallosal communication at ∼15 ms both after primary motor cortex stimulation (M1-P15) and after dorsal premotor cortex stimulation (dPMC-P15). Both M1-and dPMC-P15 were predicted by mean diffusivity in the callosal body. Moreover, M1-P15 was positively related to iSP. Importantly, M1-P15 latency was linked to bimanual coordination with direction-dependent effects, so that asymmetric TCD was the best predictor of bimanual coordination. Our findings support the idea that transcallosal timing in signal transmission is essential for interhemispheric communication and can impact the final behavioral outcome. However, they challenge the view that a short conduction delay is always beneficial. Rather, they suggest that the effect of the conduction delay may depend on the direction of information flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Bortoletto
- Neurophysiology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Laura Bonzano
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Agnese Zazio
- Neurophysiology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Clarissa Ferrari
- Statistics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Ludovico Pedullà
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberto Gasparotti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, And Public Health, Section of Neuroradiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Carlo Miniussi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Marco Bove
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Ospedale Policlinico San Martino-IRCCS, Genoa, Italy.
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Schaffert N, Braun Janzen T, Ploigt R, Schlüter S, Vuong V, Thaut MH. Development and evaluation of a novel music-based therapeutic device for upper extremity movement training: A pre-clinical, single-arm trial. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242552. [PMID: 33211773 PMCID: PMC7676671 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Restoration of upper limb motor function and patient functional independence are crucial treatment targets in neurological rehabilitation. Growing evidence indicates that music-based intervention is a promising therapeutic approach for the restoration of upper extremity functional abilities in neurologic conditions such as cerebral palsy, stroke, and Parkinson's Disease. In this context, music technology may be particularly useful to increase the availability and accessibility of music-based therapy and assist therapists in the implementation and assessment of targeted therapeutic goals. In the present study, we conducted a pre-clinical, single-arm trial to evaluate a novel music-based therapeutic device (SONATA) for upper limb extremity movement training. The device consists of a graphical user interface generated by a single-board computer displayed on a 32" touchscreen with built-in speakers controlled wirelessly by a computer tablet. The system includes two operational modes that allow users to play musical melodies on a virtual keyboard or draw figures/shapes whereby every action input results in controllable sensory feedback. Four motor tasks involving hand/finger movement were performed with 21 healthy individuals (13 males, aged 26.4 ± 3.5 years) to evaluate the device's operational modes and main features. The results of the functional tests suggest that the device is a reliable system to present pre-defined sequences of audiovisual stimuli and shapes and to record response and movement data. This preliminary study also suggests that the device is feasible and adequate for use with healthy individuals. These findings open new avenues for future clinical research to further investigate the feasibility and usability of the SONATA as a tool for upper extremity motor function training in neurological rehabilitation. Directions for future clinical research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Schaffert
- Department of Movement and Training Science, Institute for Human Movement Science, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- BeSB GmbH Berlin, Sound Engineering, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thenille Braun Janzen
- Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
| | - Roy Ploigt
- BeSB GmbH Berlin, Sound Engineering, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Veronica Vuong
- Music and Health Science Research Collaboratory, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael H. Thaut
- Music and Health Science Research Collaboratory, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Bonassi G, Lagravinese G, Bisio A, Ruggeri P, Pelosin E, Bove M, Avanzino L. Consolidation and retention of motor skill after motor imagery training. Neuropsychologia 2020; 143:107472. [PMID: 32325154 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Complex motor tasks are learned through training which results in lasting improvement in sensorimotor performance and accuracy. Learning a motor skill is commonly attained via physical execution. However, research has shown that cognitive training, such as motor imagery (MI), effectively facilitates skill learning. Neurophysiological findings suggest that learning-induced plasticity in the human motor cortex, subserving consolidation and retention of motor skills, is stronger after movement execution (ME) than after MI training. Here, we designed an experimental task able to test for the fast and slow learning phases and for retention of motor skills for both MI and ME. We hypothesize that differences between MI and ME training would emerge in terms of reduced consolidation and retention of motor skills. Twenty-four young healthy subjects were divided into two groups, performing MI or ME training. Participants wore sensor-engineered gloves and their sensorimotor performance was assessed over a period of 15 days with 4-days training. We analysed the touch duration (TD), the inter-tapping interval (ITI), movement rate and accuracy. Results showed that (i) during the first phase of acquisition of motor skills, sensorimotor performance improved similarly in MI and ME groups; (ii) during the second learning phase movement rate increased more in ME than MI group and this difference was mainly driven by differences in the duration of TD; (iii) consolidation deficits with MI training reflected in impaired retention of the acquired skills, as TD and ITI were larger and movement rate was lower in the MI group with respect to the ME, till to 10 days after the last training session. Explicit component of motor learning, accuracy, was maintained in retention phase in both groups. Following our hypothesis, our findings show that MI training is as effective as ME within the first learning phase, but consolidation and retention of motor skills are less effective following MI training. This study highlights MI limitations and suggests option to enhance MI, as by providing an external sensory feedback.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Bonassi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Ambra Bisio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Piero Ruggeri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elisa Pelosin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Bove
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Avanzino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, IRCCS, Genoa, Italy.
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6
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Effects of aging on finger movements in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2019; 37:101449. [PMID: 32173006 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2019.101449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) report impaired hand movements and coordination. With an engineered glove we demonstrated altered finger movements in PwMS; increasing age resulted in decreased performance in healthy subjects (normative data). This study aims at investigating aging effects on finger motor performance in PwMS, in relation to disease duration and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). METHODS Ninety-six PwMS performed repetitive finger opposition movements with the dominant hand and both hands at maximal velocity or metronome-paced. Performance was compared with the norms, and correlation coefficients between finger motor parameters, age, disease duration and EDSS were calculated. RESULTS The majority of subjects was outside of the normal range according to age and probability increased with level of disability. Age significantly correlated with the glove parameters (r ranged in absolute value between 0.22-0.31; p-value in the range 0.002-0.049). Older subjects with lower disability showed worse performance than younger (p = 0.044 and 0.02), whilst younger subjects with higher disability performed similarly to older (p = 0.72 and 0.49). CONCLUSION Finger motor performance assessment provides important hints about upper limb disability, which should be evaluated in relation to age, disease duration and EDSS.
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7
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Bonzano L, Pedullà L, Tacchino A, Brichetto G, Battaglia MA, Mancardi GL, Bove M. Upper limb motor training based on task-oriented exercises induces functional brain reorganization in patients with multiple sclerosis. Neuroscience 2019; 410:150-159. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Bonanno L, Russo M, Bramanti A, Calabrò RS, Marino S. Functional connectivity in multiple sclerosis after robotic rehabilitative treatment: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e15047. [PMID: 31027053 PMCID: PMC6831415 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000015047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of central nervous system and it is associated with an impaired motor function status. The efficacy of rehabilitation in promoting functional recovery and increasing quality of life in MS patients has been demonstrated. PATIENT CONCERNS A 47-year-old woman was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in November 2014 because of left upper limb hypoesthesia and weakness with difficulty in hand manipulation skills (there was a 1-point Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) progression, i.e., 2.5 vs 1.5). Magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed a new frontal right cortical high-signal-intensity lesion. DIAGNOSIS Neurological and MRI examination were suggestive of MS diagnosis. INTERVENTIONS Patient was treated with robotic rehabilitation and evaluated by a Glove Analyzer for fMRI system (GAF). Functional MRI (fMRI) was acquired before and at the end of rehabilitative treatment performed with robotic device (Armeo-power). OUTCOMES At the end of the rehabilitation program, most of the behavioral parameters, GAF and fMRI evaluation, showed a significative improvement. Moreover, fMRI showed a significantly increased functional activation within the sensory-motor network in the active, motor task. LESSONS Our findings suggest a possible restorative effect of robotics on brain networks. Moreover, we may argue that GAF may be a valuable tool in assessing functional recovery after upper limb rehabilitation, especially of associated to fMRI examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilla Bonanno
- Scientific Institute of medical Research (IRCCS) Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo
| | - Margherita Russo
- Scientific Institute of medical Research (IRCCS) Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo
| | - Alessia Bramanti
- Institute of Applied Science and Intelligent System “ISASI Eduardo Caianiello”, National Research Council (CNR), Messina, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Marino
- Scientific Institute of medical Research (IRCCS) Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo
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9
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Bonzano L, Bove M, Sormani MP, Stromillo ML, Giorgio A, Amato MP, Tacchino A, Mancardi GL, De Stefano N. Subclinical motor impairment assessed with an engineered glove correlates with magnetic resonance imaging tissue damage in radiologically isolated syndrome. Eur J Neurol 2018; 26:162-167. [PMID: 30133054 DOI: 10.1111/ene.13789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An engineered glove measuring finger motor performance previously showed ability to discriminate early-stage multiple sclerosis (MS) patients from healthy controls (HCs). Radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) classifies asymptomatic subjects with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities suggestive of multiple sclerosis. METHODS Seventeen asymptomatic subjects with RIS and 17 HCs were assessed. They performed finger-to-thumb opposition sequences at their maximal velocity, metronome-paced bimanual movements and conventional and diffusion tensor MRI. RESULTS Subjects with RIS showed lower (P = 0.005) maximal velocity and higher (P = 0.006) bimanual coordination impairment than HCs. In RIS, bimanual coordination correlated with T2-lesion volume, fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity in the white matter. CONCLUSIONS These findings point out the relevance of fine hand measures as a robust marker of subclinical disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Bonzano
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - M Bove
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - M P Sormani
- Biostatistics Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - M L Stromillo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - A Giorgio
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - M P Amato
- Neuroscience Division, Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - A Tacchino
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - G L Mancardi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - N De Stefano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Wittbrodt MT, Sawka MN, Mizelle JC, Wheaton LA, Millard‐Stafford ML. Exercise-heat stress with and without water replacement alters brain structures and impairs visuomotor performance. Physiol Rep 2018; 6:e13805. [PMID: 30136401 PMCID: PMC6105626 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Effects of exercise-heat stress with and without water replacement on brain structure and visuomotor performance were examined. Thirteen healthy adults (23.6 ± 4.2 years) completed counterbalanced 150 min trials of exercise-heat stress (45°C, 15% RH) with water replacement (EHS) or without (~3% body mass loss; EHS-DEH) compared to seated rest (CON). Anatomical scans and fMRI Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent responses during a visuomotor pacing task were evaluated. Accuracy decreased (P < 0.05) despite water replacement during EHS (-8.2 ± 6.8% vs. CON) but further degraded with EHS-DEH (-8.3 ± 6.4% vs. EHS and -16.5 ± 10.2% vs. CON). Relative to CON, EHS elicited opposing volumetric changes (P < 0.05) in brain ventricles (-5.3 ± 1.7%) and periventricular structures (cerebellum: 1.5 ± 0.8%) compared to EHS-DEH (ventricles: 6.8 ± 3.4, cerebellum: -0.7 ± 0.7; thalamus: -2.7 ± 1.3%). Changes in plasma osmolality (EHS: -3.0 ± 2.1; EHS-DEH: 9.3 ± 2.1 mOsm/kg) were related (P < 0.05) to thalamus (r = -0.45) and cerebellum volume (r = -0.61) which, in turn, were related (P < 0.05) to lateral (r = -0.41) and fourth ventricle volume (r = -0.67) changes, respectively; but, there were no associations (P > 0.50) between structural changes and visuomotor accuracy. EHS-DEH increased neural activation (P < 0.05) within motor and visual areas versus EHS and CON. Brain structural changes are related to bidirectional plasma osmolality perturbations resulting from exercise-heat stress (with and without water replacement), but do not explain visuomotor impairments. Negative impacts of exercise-heat stress on visuomotor tasks are further exacerbated by dehydration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael N. Sawka
- School of Biological SciencesGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgia
| | - J. C. Mizelle
- Department of KinesiologyEast Carolina UniversityGreenvilleNorth Carolina
| | - Lewis A. Wheaton
- School of Biological SciencesGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgia
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Signori A, Sormani MP, Schiavetti I, Bisio A, Bove M, Bonzano L. Quantitative assessment of finger motor performance: Normative data. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186524. [PMID: 29045480 PMCID: PMC5646860 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Finger opposition movements are the basis of many daily living activities and are essential in general for manipulating objects; an engineered glove quantitatively assessing motor performance during sequences of finger opposition movements has been shown to be useful to provide reliable measures of finger motor impairment, even subtle, in subjects affected by neurological diseases. However, the obtained behavioral parameters lack published reference values. Objective To determine mean values for different motor behavioral parameters describing the strategy adopted by healthy people in performing repeated sequences of finger opposition movements, examining associations with gender and age. Methods Normative values for finger motor performance parameters were obtained on a sample of 255 healthy volunteers executing sequences of finger-to-thumb opposition movements, stratified by gender and over a wide range of ages. Touch duration, inter-tapping interval, movement rate, correct sequences (%), movements in advance compared with a metronome (%) and inter-hand interval were assessed. Results Increasing age resulted in decreased movement speed, advance movements with respect to a cue, correctness of sequences, and bimanual coordination. No significant performance differences were found between male and female subjects except for the duration of the finger touch, the interval between two successive touches and their ratio. Conclusions We report age- and gender-specific normal mean values and ranges for different parameters objectively describing the performance of finger opposition movement sequences, which may serve as useful references for clinicians to identify possible deficits in subjects affected by diseases altering fine hand motor skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Signori
- Department of Health Sciences, Biostatistics Unit, University of Genoa, Via Pastore,1, Genoa, Italy
- * E-mail: (AS); (LB)
| | - Maria Pia Sormani
- Department of Health Sciences, Biostatistics Unit, University of Genoa, Via Pastore,1, Genoa, Italy
| | - Irene Schiavetti
- Department of Health Sciences, Biostatistics Unit, University of Genoa, Via Pastore,1, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ambra Bisio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Bove
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Bonzano
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Largo Daneo 3, Genoa, Italy
- * E-mail: (AS); (LB)
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12
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Provision of somatosensory inputs during motor imagery enhances learning-induced plasticity in human motor cortex. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9300. [PMID: 28839226 PMCID: PMC5571213 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09597-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor learning via physical practice leads to long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity in motor cortex (M1) and temporary occlusion of additional LTP-like plasticity. Motor learning can be achieved through simulation of movement, namely motor imagery (MI). When combined with electrical stimulation, MI influenced M1 excitability to a larger extent than MI itself. We explored whether a training based on the combination of MI and peripheral nerve stimulation (ESMI) modulates M1 LTP-like plasticity inducing retention of a new acquired skill. Twelve subjects mentally performed thumb-index movements, with synchronous electrical nerve stimulation, following an acoustic cue, in order to increase movement speed. Two control groups physically performed or imagined the same number of finger movements following the acoustic cue. After each training session, M1 LTP-like plasticity was assessed by using PAS25 (paired associative stimulation) technique. Performance was tested before and after training and 24 hours after training. Results showed that physical practice and ESMI training similarly increased movement speed, prevented the subsequent PAS25-induced LTP-like plasticity, and induced retention of motor skill the following day. Training with MI had significant, but minor effects. These findings suggest that a training combining MI with somatosensory input influences motor performance through M1 plasticity similarly to motor execution.
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13
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Portaro S, Russo M, Naro A, Bramanti A, Bramanti P, Rodolico C, Calabrò RS. Advances in assessing myotonia: Can sensor-engineered glove have a role? J Neurol Sci 2017; 375:3-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2017.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 12/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Bisio A, Avanzino L, Biggio M, Ruggeri P, Bove M. Motor training and the combination of action observation and peripheral nerve stimulation reciprocally interfere with the plastic changes induced in primary motor cortex excitability. Neuroscience 2017; 348:33-40. [PMID: 28214579 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AO-PNS is a stimulation protocol combining action observation (AO) and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) to induce plasticity in the primary motor cortex (M1) (increased excitability). Another method to increase M1 excitability is motor training. The combination of two protocols, which individually induce long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity in overlapping neural circuits, results in a transitory occlusion or reverse of this phenomenon. This study aimed to understand the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying AO-PNS by testing whether AO-PNS and motor training induced LTP-like plasticity in, at least partially, overlapping neural networks. One group of participants practiced a motor training (finger opposition movements) followed by AO-PNS, whereas another group performed the two protocols in reverse order. Motor performance was evaluated by means of a sensor-engineered glove and transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to assess M1 excitability before and after each conditioning protocol. Motor training increased movement frequency, suggesting the occurrence of motor learning in both groups. When applied on first, both motor training and AO-PNS significantly increased the motor-evoked potential (MEP), but occluded the increase of cortical excitability expected after the following protocol, leading to a significant decrease of MEP amplitude. These results suggest that motor training and AO-PNS act on partially overlapping neuronal networks, which include M1, and that AO-PNS might be able to induce LTP-like plasticity in a similar way to overt movement execution. This candidates AO-PNS as methodology potentially useful when planning rehabilitative interventions on patients who cannot voluntarily move.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Bisio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Avanzino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Monica Biggio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Piero Ruggeri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Bove
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
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Learning by observing: the effect of multiple sessions of action-observation training on the spontaneous movement tempo and motor resonance. Neuropsychologia 2016; 96:89-95. [PMID: 27769797 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The present study was designed to explore the changes in motor performance and motor resonance after multiple sessions of action observation (AO) training. Subjects were exposed to the observation of a video showing finger tapping movements executed at 3Hz, a frequency higher than the spontaneous one (2Hz) for four consecutive days. Motor performance and motor resonance were tested before the AO training on the first day, and on the last day. Results showed that multiple sessions of AO training induced a shift of the speed of execution of finger tapping movements toward the observed one and a change in motor resonance. Before the 3Hz-AO training cortical excitability was highest during the observation of the 2Hz video. This motor resonance effect was lost after one single session of 3Hz-AO training whereas after multiple sessions of 3Hz-AO training cortical excitability was highest during the observation of the 3Hz video. Our study shows for the first time that multiple sessions of AO training are able not only to induce performance gains but also to change the way by which the observer's motor system recognizes a certain movement as belonging to the individual motor repertoire. These results may encourage the development of novel rehabilitative protocols based on multiple sessions of action observation aimed to regain a correct movement when its spontaneous speed is modified by pathologies or to modify the innate temporal properties of certain movements.
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16
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Frontoparietal cortex and cerebellum contribution to the update of actual and mental motor performance during the day. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30126. [PMID: 27444783 PMCID: PMC4957085 DOI: 10.1038/srep30126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Actual and imagined movement speed increases from early morning until mid-afternoon. Here, we investigated the neural correlates of these daily changes. Fifteen subjects performed actual and imagined right finger opposition movement sequences at 8 am and 2 pm. Both actual and imagined movements were significantly faster at 2 pm than 8 am. In the morning, actual movements significantly activated the left primary somatosensory and motor areas, and bilaterally the cerebellum; in the afternoon activations were similar but reduced. Contrast analysis revealed greater activity in the cerebellum, the left primary sensorimotor cortex and parietal lobe in the morning than in the afternoon. Imagined movements in the morning significantly activated the parietal association cortices bilaterally, the left supplementary and premotor areas, and the right orbitofrontal cortex and cerebellum. In the afternoon, the frontal lobe was significantly activated with the right cerebellum. Contrast analysis revealed increased activity in the left parietal lobe in the morning than in the afternoon. For both tasks, speed in the morning was significantly related to the BOLD signal in the brain areas resulted more active. These findings suggest that motor performance is continuously updated on a daily basis with a predominant role of the frontoparietal cortex and cerebellum.
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17
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Naro A, Leo A, Russo M, Cannavò A, Milardi D, Bramanti P, Calabrò RS. Does Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Induce Cerebellum Plasticity? Feasibility, Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Electrophysiological Approach. Brain Stimul 2016; 9:388-395. [PMID: 26946958 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2016.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebellum-brain functional connectivity can be shaped through different non-invasive neurostimulation approaches. In this study, we propose a novel approach to perturb the cerebellum-brain functional connectivity by means of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). METHODS Twenty-five healthy individuals underwent a cerebellar tACS protocol employing different frequencies (10, 50, and 300 Hz) and a sham-tACS over the right cerebellar hemisphere. We measured their after-effects on the motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, the cerebellum-brain inhibition (CBI), the long-latency intracortical inhibition (LICI), from the primary motor cortex of both the hemispheres. In addition, we assessed the functional adaptation to a right hand sequential tapping motor task. RESULTS None of the participants had any side-effect. Following 50 Hz-tACS, we observed a clear contralateral CBI weakening, paralleled by a MEP increase with a better adaptation to frequency variations during the sequential tapping. The 300 Hz-tACS induced a contralateral CBI strengthening, without significant MEP and kinematic after-effects. The 10 Hz-tACS conditioning was instead ineffective. CONCLUSIONS We may argue that tACS protocols could have interfered with the activity of CBI-sustaining Purkinje cell, affecting motor adaptation. Our safe approach seems promising in studying the cerebellum-brain functional connectivity, with possible implications in neurorehabilitative settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy
| | - Antonino Leo
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy
| | | | | | - Demetrio Milardi
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Italy
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18
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Alberti MA, Mori L, Francini L, Poggi I, Monti Bragadin M, Bellone E, Grandis M, Maggi G, Reni L, Sormani MP, Tacchino A, Padua L, Prada V, Bove M, Schenone A. Innovative quantitative testing of hand function in Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy. J Peripher Nerv Syst 2015; 20:410-4. [DOI: 10.1111/jns.12150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria A. Alberti
- Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Neurology; Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL; Barcelona Spain
| | - Laura Mori
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health; University of Genoa; Genoa Italy
| | - Luca Francini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health; University of Genoa; Genoa Italy
| | - Ilaria Poggi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health; University of Genoa; Genoa Italy
| | - Margherita Monti Bragadin
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health; University of Genoa; Genoa Italy
| | - Emilia Bellone
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health; University of Genoa; Genoa Italy
| | - Marina Grandis
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health; University of Genoa; Genoa Italy
| | | | - Lizia Reni
- IRCCS San Martino-IST; University Hospital; Genoa Italy
| | - Maria P. Sormani
- Department of Health Science, Section of Biostatistics; University of Genoa; Genoa Italy
| | - Andrea Tacchino
- Scientific Research Area; Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (FISM); Genoa Italy
| | - Luca Padua
- Department of Neurosciences; USCS University; Rome Italy
- Don Gnocchi Foundation; Milan Italy
| | - Valeria Prada
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health; University of Genoa; Genoa Italy
| | - Marco Bove
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology; University of Genoa; Genoa Italy
| | - Angelo Schenone
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health; University of Genoa; Genoa Italy
- IRCCS San Martino-IST; University Hospital; Genoa Italy
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19
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Bonzano L, Tacchino A, Roccatagliata L, Inglese M, Mancardi GL, Novellino A, Bove M. An engineered glove for investigating the neural correlates of finger movements using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Front Hum Neurosci 2015; 9:503. [PMID: 26441600 PMCID: PMC4568337 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective measurement of concomitant finger motor performance is recommended for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies investigating brain activity during finger tapping tasks, because performance modality and ability can influence the selection of different neural networks. In this study, we present a novel glove system for quantitative evaluation of finger opposition movements during fMRI (called Glove Analyzer for fMRI, GAF). Several tests for magnetic resonance (MR) compatibility were performed concerning magnet forces, image artifacts and right functioning of the system. Then, pilot fMRI of finger opposition tasks were conducted at 1.5T and 3T to investigate the neural correlates of sequences of finger opposition movements with the right hand, with simultaneous behavioral recording by means of GAF. All the MR compatibility tests succeeded, and the fMRI analysis revealed mainly the activation of the left sensorimotor areas and right cerebellum, regions that are known to be involved in finger movements. No artifactual clusters were detected in the activation maps. At the same time, through the parameters calculated by GAF it was possible to describe the sensorimotor strategy adopted by the subjects during the required task. Thus, the proposed device resulted to be MR compatible and can be useful for future fMRI studies investigating the neural correlates of finger opposition movements, allowing follow-up studies and comparisons among different groups of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bonzano
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa Genoa, Italy ; Magnetic Resonance Research Centre on Nervous System Diseases, University of Genoa Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Tacchino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Roccatagliata
- Magnetic Resonance Research Centre on Nervous System Diseases, University of Genoa Genoa, Italy ; Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa Genoa, Italy
| | - Matilde Inglese
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa Genoa, Italy ; Magnetic Resonance Research Centre on Nervous System Diseases, University of Genoa Genoa, Italy ; Department of Neurology, Radiology, Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY, USA
| | - Giovanni Luigi Mancardi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa Genoa, Italy ; Magnetic Resonance Research Centre on Nervous System Diseases, University of Genoa Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Marco Bove
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa Genoa, Italy
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20
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Avanzino L, Lagravinese G, Bisio A, Perasso L, Ruggeri P, Bove M. Action observation: mirroring across our spontaneous movement tempo. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10325. [PMID: 25989029 PMCID: PMC4437370 DOI: 10.1038/srep10325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
During action observation (AO), the activity of the “mirror system” is influenced by the viewer’s expertise in the observed action. A question that remains open is whether the temporal aspects of the subjective motor repertoire can influence the “mirror system” activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Avanzino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giovanna Lagravinese
- 1] Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy [2] Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ambra Bisio
- 1] Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy [2] Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luisa Perasso
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Piero Ruggeri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Bove
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
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21
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Russo M, Crupi D, Naro A, Avanzino L, Buccafusca M, Dattola V, Terranova C, Sottile F, Rizzo V, Ghilardi MF, Girlanda P, Bove M, Quartarone A. Fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis: from movement preparation to motor execution. J Neurol Sci 2015; 351:52-57. [PMID: 25748966 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Revised: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neural mechanisms underlying fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) are still poorly understood. Cortico-cortical and cortico-subcortical circuitry abnormalities may play a central role in its pathogenesis. Our previous studies suggest that central fatigue may be related to an impairment of volition drive during movement preparation. OBJECTIVE We further explored the central mechanisms of fatigue at the premovement level in MS patients during a sustained motor task. METHODS In MS patients with (MS-F) and without (MS-NF) fatigue and age-matched healthy controls, we evaluated the motor cortex excitability and the premovement facilitation (PMF) through transcranial magnetic stimulation before and after 5min of sequenced finger-tapping movements at a fixed frequency of 2Hz. RESULTS In MS-F patients, the number of correct sequences performed and the ability to keep a fixed movement rate during the 5-min motor task were significantly decreased in comparison to the normal controls and MS-NF patients. Also, in MS-F patients, post-exercise PMF was significantly decreased. The PMF abnormalities were highly correlated with the performance decay. CONCLUSIONS PMF may be considered as a kind of servo-mechanism which could play a crucial role during sustained motor task in order to prevent motor performance disruption and to avoid motor exhaustion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Domenica Crupi
- Regional Epilepsy Centre "Bianchi Melacrino Morelli" Hospital, Reggio, Calabria, Italy
| | - Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", Messina, Italy
| | - Laura Avanzino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Fabrizio Sottile
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Rizzo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Felice Ghilardi
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, City University of New-York, Medical School, New York, USA
| | - Paolo Girlanda
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Messina, Italy
| | - Marco Bove
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, Italy
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22
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Bonzano L, Palmaro E, Teodorescu R, Fleysher L, Inglese M, Bove M. Functional connectivity in the resting-state motor networks influences the kinematic processes during motor sequence learning. Eur J Neurosci 2014; 41:243-53. [PMID: 25328043 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Revised: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies support the involvement of the cerebello-cortical and striato-cortical motor loops in motor sequence learning. Here, we investigated whether the gain of motor sequence learning could depend on a-priori resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) between motor areas and structures belonging to these circuits. Fourteen healthy subjects underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging session. Afterward, they were asked to reproduce a verbally-learned sequence of finger opposition movements as fast and as accurately as possible. All subjects increased their movement rate with practice, by reducing the touch duration and/or intertapping interval. The rsFC analysis showed that, at rest, the left and right primary motor cortex (M1) and left and right supplementary motor area (SMA) were mainly connected with other motor areas. The covariate analysis taking into account the different kinematic parameters indicated that the subjects achieving greater movement rate increase were those showing stronger rsFC of the left M1 and SMA with the right lobule VIII of the cerebellum. Notably, the subjects with greater intertapping interval reduction showed stronger rsFC of the left M1 and SMA with the association nuclei of the thalamus. Conversely, the regression analysis with the right M1 and SMA seeds showed only a few significant clusters for the different covariates not located in the cerebellum and thalamus. No common clusters were found between the right M1 and SMA. All of these findings indicated important functional connections at rest of those neural circuits responsible for motor learning improvement, involving the motor areas related to the hemisphere directly controlling the finger movements, the thalamus and cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bonzano
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Magnetic Resonance Research Centre on Nervous System Diseases, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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23
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Bisio A, Avanzino L, Gueugneau N, Pozzo T, Ruggeri P, Bove M. Observing and perceiving: A combined approach to induce plasticity in human motor cortex. Clin Neurophysiol 2014; 126:1212-1220. [PMID: 25454343 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2014.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Revised: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/30/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test whether action observation combined with peripheral nerve electrical stimulation was able to evoke plasticity in the primary motor cortex (M1). METHODS The stimulation protocol consisted in the observation of a video showing repetitive thumb-index tapping movements (AO) combined with peripheral electrical nerve stimulation (PNS) delivered on the median nerve (AO-PNS). M1 excitability, measured by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation, was compared with that assessed after AO and PNS alone. RESULTS M1 excitability increased after AO-PNS, whilst no modifications occurred after AO and PNS alone. The increased M1 excitability after AO-PNS was long-lasting (45 min) and specific for the stimulated muscle. CONCLUSIONS This study described an innovative stimulation paradigm that exploited the mirror neuron system to induce plasticity in M1. However, this occurred only when action observation was combined with afferent signals coming from periphery. SIGNIFICANCE This study supports the literature proposing the mirror neuron system as neural substrate for rehabilitation and opens a debate on the rehabilitative treatments that employ AO to improve patients' motor functions. Indeed, these results suggest that AO has to be combined with afferent inputs from periphery to evoke plasticity in the human motor system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Bisio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Avanzino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicolas Gueugneau
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Thierry Pozzo
- Department of Robotics, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy; INSERM, U1093, Cognition Action Plasticité Sensori Motrice, 21065 Dijon, France; Institut Universitaire de France, Université de Bourgogne, Campus Universitaire, UFR STAPS, Dijon, France
| | - Piero Ruggeri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Bove
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
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24
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Transfer of piano practice in fast performance of skilled finger movements. BMC Neurosci 2013; 14:133. [PMID: 24175946 PMCID: PMC4228459 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-14-133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2013] [Accepted: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transfer of learning facilitates the efficient mastery of various skills without practicing all possible sensory-motor repertoires. The present study assessed whether motor practice at a submaximal speed, which is typical in sports and music performance, results in an increase in a maximum speed of finger movements of trained and untrained skills. Results Piano practice of sequential finger movements at a submaximal speed over days progressively increased the maximum speed of trained movements. This increased maximum speed of finger movements was maintained two months after the practice. The learning transferred within the hand to some extent, but not across the hands. Conclusions The present study confirmed facilitation of fast finger movements following a piano practice at a submaximal speed. In addition, the findings indicated the intra-manual transfer effects of piano practice on the maximum speed of skilled finger movements.
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25
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Pardini M, Bonzano L, Roccatagliata L, Mancardi GL, Bove M. The fatigue-motor performance paradox in multiple sclerosis. Sci Rep 2013; 3:2001. [PMID: 23774178 PMCID: PMC3684814 DOI: 10.1038/srep02001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Subjective fatigue is a typical symptom in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) even in the earliest stages of the disease. The relationship between persistent fatigue and motor task performance is still unclear. Aim of this study was to better investigate this relationship at both the motor behavioral and neuroanatomical levels. Towards this goal, we combined a quantitative evaluation of an undemanding finger motor task with concurrent brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a group of MS patients with minimal disability but reporting persistent subjective fatigue. We found an unexpected significant positive correlation between persistent subjective fatigue and task-related temporal accuracy, revealing a "fatigue-motor performance paradox". fMRI analysis indicated that this association is potentially mediated by cerebellar and orbitofrontal cortex activity, suggesting a role of these regions in developing subjective fatigue. Our data point to a possible adaptive role for fatigue as the subjective correlate of increased resource demand for motor activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Pardini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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26
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Bonzano L, Sormani MP, Tacchino A, Abate L, Lapucci C, Mancardi GL, Uccelli A, Bove M. Quantitative assessment of finger motor impairment in multiple sclerosis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65225. [PMID: 23741485 PMCID: PMC3669283 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To address the disability impact on fine hand motor functions in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by quantitatively measuring finger opposition movements, with the aim of providing a new “score” integrating current methods for disability assessment. Methods 40 MS patients (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS): 0–7) and 80 healthy controls (HC) performed a repetitive finger-to-thumb opposition sequence with their dominant hand at spontaneous and maximal velocity, and uni- and bi-manually metronome-paced. A sensor-engineered glove was used to measure finger motor performance. Twenty-seven HC were tested twice, one month apart, to assess test-retest reliability. Results The motor parameters showed a good reproducibility in HC and demonstrated significantly worse performance in MS patients with respect to HC. A multivariate model revealed that rate of movement in the spontaneous velocity condition and inter-hand interval (IHI), indicating bimanual coordination, contributed independently to differentiate the two groups. A finger motor impairment score based on these two parameters was able to discriminate HC from MS patients with very low EDSS scores (p<0.001): a significant difference was already evident for patients with EDSS = 0. Further, in the MS group, some motor performance parameters correlated with the clinical scores. In particular, significant correlations were found between IHI and EDSS (r = 0.56; p<0.0001), MS Functional Composite (r = −0.40; p = 0.01), Paced Auditory Serial Addition (r = −0.38; p = 0.02). No motor performance parameter correlated with Timed 25-Foot Walk. Conclusions A simple, quantitative, objective method measuring finger motor performance could be used to define a score discriminating healthy controls and MS patients, even with very low disability. This sensitivity might be of crucial importance for monitoring the disease course and the treatment effects in early MS patients, when changes in the EDSS are small or absent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bonzano
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Sormani
- Department of Health Sciences, Biostatistics Unit, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Tacchino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lucia Abate
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Caterina Lapucci
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Luigi Mancardi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Antonio Uccelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Bove
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- * E-mail:
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27
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Seidler RD, Bo J, Anguera JA. Neurocognitive contributions to motor skill learning: the role of working memory. J Mot Behav 2013; 44:445-53. [PMID: 23237467 DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2012.672348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Researchers have begun to delineate the precise nature and neural correlates of the cognitive processes that contribute to motor skill learning. The authors review recent work from their laboratory designed to further understand the neurocognitive mechanisms of skill acquisition. The authors have demonstrated an important role for spatial working memory in 2 different types of motor skill learning, sensorimotor adaptation and motor sequence learning. They have shown that individual differences in spatial working memory capacity predict the rate of motor learning for sensorimotor adaptation and motor sequence learning, and have also reported neural overlap between a spatial working memory task and the early, but not late, stages of adaptation, particularly in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and bilateral inferior parietal lobules. The authors propose that spatial working memory is relied on for processing motor error information to update motor control for subsequent actions. Further, they suggest that working memory is relied on during learning new action sequences for chunking individual action elements together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael D Seidler
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2214, USA.
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28
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Crupi D, Cruciata G, Moisello C, Green PA, Naro A, Ricciardi L, Perfetti B, Bove M, Avanzino L, Di Rocco A, Quartarone A, Ghilardi MF. Protracted exercise without overt neuromuscular fatigue influences cortical excitability. J Mot Behav 2013; 45:127-38. [PMID: 23488595 DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2012.760514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The authors' aim was to determine the cortical mechanisms that underlie the transition from effective performance to its disruption. They thus used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study changes of corticospinal excitability after a motor exercise that did not produce overt or perceived neuromuscular fatigue. Forty-four subjects performed either 5 or 10 min of repetitive finger movements paced by tones at 2 Hz, a frequency below the spontaneous movement rate. Changes of corticospinal excitability were assessed with TMS at rest and during motor response preparation (premovement facilitation paradigm). Over time, variability of movement rate increased, while the average movement rate shifted toward self-paced rhythms, without significant changes in other kinematic parameters. Amplitudes of motor evoked potentials at rest decreased depending on task duration and TMS intensity. Moreover, 5-min exercise induced fully compensatory increases in premovement facilitation, while 10-min exercise produced partially compensatory increases with loss of temporal modulation. Our findings suggest that protracted exercise induces significant decrements in corticospinal excitability with initial impairment of the phasic motor neurons that are recruited at higher stimulus intensities. Changes in premovement facilitation likely represent compensation of premotor areas for decreased efficiency of the primary motor cortex induced by exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenica Crupi
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, CUNY Medical School, New York, NY 10031, USA
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Basal ganglia are active during motor performance recovery after a demanding motor task. Neuroimage 2012; 65:257-66. [PMID: 23063450 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2012] [Revised: 08/31/2012] [Accepted: 10/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor performance recovery after a demanding finger motor task does not follow the excitability dynamics of primary motor cortex (M1), which remains depressed also when performance is restored. Thus, other neural circuits are supposed to cope with central fatigue, re-establishing adequate motor performance levels. A hint that the basal ganglia (BG) can be involved in this process is provided by studies showing an association of central fatigue with the BG. To investigate this possibility, we conducted an fMRI study with simultaneous motor performance recording in 20 healthy volunteers at different stages of a demanding finger motor task: baseline, central fatigue induced by 5-min sequence repetition, performance recovery after a short rest period. When motor performance was recovered, we observed a significant activation with respect to baseline in subcortical structures belonging to different BG circuits (putamen and globus pallidus), involving the limbic system functionally interacting with the BG (amygdala). Then, to assess whether the BG activation was exclusively related to the fatigue and recovery processes or to increasing automatism in motor performance, a control fMRI experiment based on a shorter motor task duration was carried out on 14 healthy subjects. In this case, the task repetition did not induce decreased performance, and no significant effect on the BOLD signal change was found in BG regions of interest with respect to baseline. All these findings suggest that motor and non-motor BG circuits run parallel and converge in a common motor path to successfully compensate motor performance deterioration in a central fatigue condition.
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Avanzino L, Giannini A, Tacchino A, Abbruzzese G, Bove M. The role of proprioception in the consolidation of ipsilateral 1Hz-rTMS effects on motor performance. Clin Neurophysiol 2012; 123:577-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2011.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2011] [Revised: 08/04/2011] [Accepted: 08/10/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Avanzino L, Martino D, Bove M, De Grandis E, Tacchino A, Pelosin E, Mirabelli M, Veneselli E, Abbruzzese G. Movement lateralization and bimanual coordination in children with Tourette syndrome. Mov Disord 2011; 26:2114-8. [PMID: 21932301 DOI: 10.1002/mds.23839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2010] [Revised: 05/16/2011] [Accepted: 05/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a childhood-onset disorder characterized by persistent motor and vocal tics fluctuating in severity. Although structural changes observed in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome concern brain structures involved in voluntary motor control such as the basal ganglia, the frontoparietal cortex, and the corpus callosum, movement lateralization and bimanual coordination have been underinvestigated. METHODS Using a sensor-engineered glove, we analyzed the performance of repetitive externally paced single-hand and bimanual finger movements in 11 children with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. RESULTS When requested to perform sequential single-hand finger movements, patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome showed longer touch duration, shorter movement time, and more errors than healthy subjects. When requested to execute the task bimanually, healthy subjects exhibited a slight loss in accuracy and an increase in touch duration compared with the single-hand task, whereas patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome did not. Further, healthy subjects presented great asymmetry in terms of movement accuracy between left and right hands during the bimanual task, whereas patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome did not. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome may present an abnormal process of sensorimotor integration, movement lateralization, and bimanual coordination during sequential finger movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Avanzino
- Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology & Genetics and Istituto Nazionale di Neuroscienze, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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Bonzano L, Tacchino A, Roccatagliata L, Sormani M, Mancardi G, Bove M. Impairment in explicit visuomotor sequence learning is related to loss of microstructural integrity of the corpus callosum in multiple sclerosis patients with minimal disability. Neuroimage 2011; 57:495-501. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2011] [Revised: 04/18/2011] [Accepted: 04/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Bonzano L, Tacchino A, Roccatagliata L, Mancardi GL, Abbruzzese G, Bove M. Structural integrity of callosal midbody influences intermanual transfer in a motor reaction-time task. Hum Brain Mapp 2011; 32:218-28. [PMID: 20336657 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.21011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Training one hand on a motor task results in performance improvements in the other hand, also when stimuli are randomly presented (nonspecific transfer). Corpus callosum (CC) is the main structure involved in interhemispheric information transfer; CC pathology occurs in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and is related to altered performance of tasks requiring interhemispheric transfer of sensorimotor information. To investigate the role of CC in nonspecific transfer during a pure motor reaction-time task, we combined motor behavior with diffusion tensor imaging analysis in PwMS. Twenty-two PwMS and 10 controls, all right-handed, were asked to respond to random stimuli with appropriate finger opposition movements with the right (learning) and then the left (transfer) hand. PwMS were able to improve motor performance reducing response times with practice with a trend similar to controls and preserved the ability to transfer the acquired motor information from the learning to the transfer hand. A higher variability in the transfer process, indicated by a significantly larger standard deviation of mean nonspecific transfer, was found in the PwMS group with respect to the control group, suggesting the presence of subtle impairments in interhemispheric communication in some patients. Then, we correlated the amount of nonspecific transfer with mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values, indicative of microstructural damage, obtained in five CC subregions identified on PwMS's FA maps. A significant correlation was found only in the subregion including posterior midbody (Pearson's r = 0.74, P = 0.003), which thus seems to be essential for the interhemispheric transfer of information related to pure sensorimotor tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bonzano
- Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology and Genetics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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Moisello C, Avanzino L, Tacchino A, Ruggeri P, Ghilardi MF, Bove M. Motor sequence learning: acquisition of explicit knowledge is concomitant to changes in motor strategy of finger opposition movements. Brain Res Bull 2011; 85:104-8. [PMID: 21459132 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2011] [Revised: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 03/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Motor sequence learning is not a unitary phenomenon, but involves optimizing different components that include declarative and procedural aspects. In this work we designed an experimental approach that allows monitoring all the aspects of sequence learning using a finger opposition task and a movement-by-movement analysis. Subjects performed a visuomotor sequence learning paradigm with (Explicit) or without (Implicit) instructions and we measured response time (RT) and touch duration (TD) for each finger opposition movement of the sequence. Our results indicated that sequence learning induced a double-faced effect on motor performance: a decrease of RT and an increase of TD. However, the above changes manifested differently among subjects: all subjects that, by the end of session, had complete recall of the sequence order, reached an equal level of performance by the last sequence block while in those who had on average only a poor recall of the sequence order, learning was evident only as a slight decrease of RT across sequence blocks, while no kinematic changes (i.e., changes in TD) occurred. Our results indicate that, in the absence of specific instructions, learning evolves from an early stage in which only small decreases of RT are observed to a phase in which progressive knowledge of the sequential structure allows for dramatic changes of RT, together with a progressive change of motor performance (i.e., changes in TD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Moisello
- Dept. of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Italy
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35
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Recovery of motor performance deterioration induced by a demanding finger motor task does not follow cortical excitability dynamics. Neuroscience 2011; 174:84-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2010] [Accepted: 11/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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36
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Rizzo V, Bove M, Naro A, Tacchino A, Mastroeni C, Avanzino L, Crupi D, Morgante F, Siebner H, Quartarone A. Associative cortico-cortical plasticity may affect ipsilateral finger opposition movements. Behav Brain Res 2011; 216:433-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2010] [Revised: 08/06/2010] [Accepted: 08/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Rogers B, Zhang W, Narayana S, Lancaster JL, Robin DA, Fox PT. Force sensing system for automated assessment of motor performance during fMRI. J Neurosci Methods 2010; 190:92-4. [PMID: 20417235 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2010.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2010] [Revised: 04/09/2010] [Accepted: 04/14/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Finger tapping sequences are a commonly used measure of motor learning in functional imaging studies. Subjects repeat a defined sequence of finger taps as fast as possible for a set period of time. The number of sequences completed per unit time is the measure of performance. Assessment of speed and accuracy is generally accomplished by video recording the session then replaying in slow motion to assess rate and accuracy. This is a time consuming and error prone process. Keyboards and instrumented gloves have also been used for task assessment though they are relatively expensive and not usually compatible in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. To address these problems, we developed a low cost system using MRI compatible force sensitive resistors (FSR) to assess the performance during a finger sequence task. This system additionally provides information on finger coordination including time between sequences, intervals between taps, and tap duration. The method was validated by comparing the FSR system results with results obtained by video analysis during the same session.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill Rogers
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 7829, USA.
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38
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Avanzino L, Bove M, Tacchino A, Ruggeri P, Giannini A, Trompetto C, Abbruzzese G. Cerebellar involvement in timing accuracy of rhythmic finger movements in essential tremor. Eur J Neurosci 2009; 30:1971-9. [PMID: 19912337 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06984.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum is involved in the generation of essential tremor (ET) and cerebellar timing function is altered in patients with ET showing an increased variability of rhythmic hand movements. Using a sensor-engineered glove, we evaluated motor behaviour during repetitive finger tapping movements in 15 patients with ET and in 11 age- and gender-matched normal subjects. In addition, we investigated whether, in patients with ET, an inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (1 Hz-rTMS) over lateral cerebellum was able to change timing properties and motor behaviour. Patients with ET showed a longer touch duration (TD) and a lower inter tapping interval (ITI) than normal subjects. The temporal variability of the movement (coefficient of variation of ITI) was increased in patients with ET. Neither clinical rating scale or tremor measurements correlated with any parameter of motor performance in the ET group. 1 Hz-rTMS over ipsilateral lateral cerebellum transiently affected the performance of patients with ET, by reducing TD values and normalizing ITI values. After 1 Hz-rTMS, the coefficient of variation of ITI was restored to values similar to those of normal subjects. We postulate that the strategy to increase TD, probably adopted to allow a better perception of movement, can affect ITI and its variability. The results support the idea that the cerebellum plays a central role in the selection of motor strategy of rhythmic finger movements, particularly in terms of temporal organization of movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Avanzino
- Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology and Genetics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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39
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Avanzino L, Giannini A, Tacchino A, Pelosin E, Ruggeri P, Bove M. Motor imagery influences the execution of repetitive finger opposition movements. Neurosci Lett 2009; 466:11-5. [PMID: 19770024 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2009] [Revised: 09/04/2009] [Accepted: 09/16/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Motor imagery (MI) is the ability to imagine performing a movement without executing it. In literature, there have been numerous reports on the influence of MI on motor practice and the beneficial effects of "mental practice" on the physical performance has been suggested to rely to the close temporal association between motor rehearsal and actual performance. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate whether the addition of a period of motor imagery between two motor practice trials could modify movement execution in a repetitive finger opposition motor task performed at maximal speed and whether the effect of motor imagery on motor practice is dependant on the complexity of movement. We observed that the addition of motor imagery to the sole motor practice was able to influence the performance of repetitive finger opposition movements inducing an increase of the velocity of movement greater than that observed with the motor practice alone. Further the addition of motor imagery was able to induce a modification in the motor strategy in terms of duration of the main phases of movements. This was more evident when subjects executed a finger sequential task with respect to a simple finger tapping task. We assume that mental rehearsal facilitates the brain network involved in sensorimotor control, particularly acting on those neural structures involved in the motor program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Avanzino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa 16132, Italy
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40
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Bove M, Tacchino A, Pelosin E, Moisello C, Abbruzzese G, Ghilardi MF. Spontaneous movement tempo is influenced by observation of rhythmical actions. Brain Res Bull 2009; 80:122-7. [PMID: 19394410 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2009.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2009] [Revised: 04/14/2009] [Accepted: 04/14/2009] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Observation of people performing movements facilitates motor planning, execution and memory formation. Tempo, a crucial aspect involved in the execution of rhythmic movements, is normally perceived and learned through auditory channels. In this work, we ascertained whether: first, the frequency of self-paced finger movements (SPMs), which in normal subjects is around 2 Hz, is modified by prior observation of movements performed at either 1 or 3 Hz; second, such changes are lasting; third, there is an effect of time interval between observation and performance. We finally determined the effect of providing explicit information about the upcoming motor task. Seventy-two normal subjects (12 groups) performed a simple finger sequence at different intervals after observation of videos of either landscapes or finger opposition movements. Both with and without information about the upcoming task, observation influenced the tempo of SPMs and led to memory formation. With knowledge of the upcoming task, such changes occurred at all observation-execution intervals, while without instructions, changes took place only when SPMs were performed immediately after observation. Compared to explicit instructions, the absence of instructions produced tempo's changes that more closely resembled the observed rhythms. We conclude that learning requires a prompt comparison between visual and sensorimotor representations of movements; moreover, learning with explicit instructions is more efficient, as activity in both the dorsal and ventral streams might be potentiated by the chatecholaminergic attentional systems that promote long-term potentiation. These results provide the bases for novel neurorehabilitation strategies in terms of temporal re-organization of movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bove
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa 16132, Italy.
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41
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Avanzino L, Bove M, Tacchino A, Trompetto C, Ogliastro C, Abbruzzese G. Interaction Between Finger Opposition Movements and Aftereffects of 1Hz-rTMS on Ipsilateral Motor Cortex. J Neurophysiol 2009; 101:1690-4. [DOI: 10.1152/jn.90428.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
One-hertz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (1Hz-rTMS) over ipsilateral motor cortex is able to modify up to 30 min the motor performance of repetitive finger opposition movements paced with a metronome at 2 Hz. We investigated whether the long-lasting rTMS effect on motor behavior can be modulated by subsequent engagement of the contralateral sensorimotor system. Motor task was performed in different experimental conditions: immediately after rTMS, 30 min after rTMS, or when real rTMS was substituted with sham rTMS. Subjects performing the motor task immediately after rTMS showed modifications in motor behavior ≤30 min after rTMS. On the other hand, when real rTMS was substituted with sham stimulation or when subjects performed the motor task 30 min after the rTMS session, the effect was no longer present. These findings suggest that the combination of ipsilateral 1Hz-rTMS and voluntary movement is crucial to endure the effect of rTMS on the movement itself, probably acting on synaptic plasticity-like mechanism. This finding might provide some useful hints for neurorehabilitation protocols.
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Lenas P, Moreno A, Ikonomou L, Mayer J, Honda H, Novellino A, Pizarro C, Nicodemou-Lena E, Rodergas S, Pintor J. The Complementarity of the Technical Tools of Tissue Engineering and the Concepts of Artificial Organs for the Design of Functional Bioartificial Tissues. Artif Organs 2008; 32:742-7. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1594.2008.00599.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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Abstract
Corpus callosum (CC) is involved in the performance of bimanual motor tasks. We asked whether its functional role could be investigated by combining a motor behavioral study on bimanual movements in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with a quantitative magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis of CC, which is shown to be damaged in this disease. MS patients and normal subjects were asked to perform sequences of bimanual finger opposition movements at different metronome rates; then we explored the structural integrity of CC by means of DTI. Significant differences in motor performance, mainly referred to timing accuracy, were observed between MS patients and control subjects. Bimanual motor coordination was impaired in MS patients as shown by the larger values of the interhand interval observed at all the tested metronome rates with respect to controls. Furthermore, DTI revealed a significant reduction of fractional anisotropy (FA), indicative of microstructural tissue damage, in the CC of MS patients. By correlating the mean FA values with the different motor behavior parameters, we found that the degree of damage in the anterior callosal portions mainly influences the bimanual coordination and, in particular, the movement phase preceding the finger touch. Finally, the described approach, which correlates quantitative measures of tissue damage obtained by advanced magnetic resonance imaging tools with appropriate behavioral measurements, may help the exploration of different aspects of motor performance impairment attributable to the disease.
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Gates DH, Dingwell JB. The effects of neuromuscular fatigue on task performance during repetitive goal-directed movements. Exp Brain Res 2008; 187:573-85. [PMID: 18327575 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-008-1326-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2007] [Accepted: 02/14/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Proper movement timing is essential to the successful execution of many motor tasks and may be adversely affected by muscle fatigue. This study quantified how muscle fatigue affected task performance during a repetitive upper extremity task. A total of 14 healthy young adults pushed a low load back and forth along a low-friction horizontal track in time with a metronome until volitional exhaustion. Kinematic, force, and electromyography (EMG) data were measured continuously throughout the task. The first and last 3.5 min were analyzed to represent "early" and "late" fatigue. Means and standard deviations of movement distance, speed, and timing errors were computed. We also decomposed variations in movement distance and speed into deviations that directly affected achieving the task goal and those that did not, by identifying the goal equivalent manifold (GEM) of all valid solutions to this task. Detrended fluctuation analysis was used to quantify the temporal persistence in each time series. Principle components analysis provided a direct measure of alignment with the GEM. Median power frequencies of the EMG significantly decreased in six of the nine muscles tested indicating that subjects did fatigue. However, there were no differences in the means or variability of movement distance, speed, or timing errors. Thus, subjects maintained overall performance despite fatigue. Subjects applied slightly higher peak handle forces when they were fatigued (P = 0.032). Muscle fatigue caused significant reductions in the temporal persistence of movement speed (P = 0.037) and timing errors (P = 0.046), indicating that subjects corrected errors more quickly when fatigued. Mean deviations and variability perpendicular to the GEM were much smaller than variability along the GEM (P < 0.001). Deviations perpendicular to the GEM were also corrected much more rapidly than those along the GEM (P < 0.001). Subjects aligned themselves very closely (<+/-7 degrees ), but not exactly (P < 0.001), with the GEM. These measures were not significantly affected by muscle fatigue. Overall, these results indicated that subjects altered their biomechanical movement patterns in response to muscle fatigue, but did so in a way that specifically preserved the goal relevant features of task performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanna H Gates
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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45
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Avanzino L, Bove M, Trompetto C, Tacchino A, Ogliastro C, Abbruzzese G. 1-Hz repetitive TMS over ipsilateral motor cortex influences the performance of sequential finger movements of different complexity. Eur J Neurosci 2008; 27:1285-91. [PMID: 18312586 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2008.06086.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
To elucidate the role of ipsilateral motor cortex (M1) in the control of unilateral finger movements (UFMs) in humans we used a conditioning protocol of 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (1-Hz rTMS) over M1 in 11 right-handed healthy subjects. We analysed the effects of conditioning rTMS on UFMs of different complexity (simple vs sequential finger movements), and performed with a different modality (internally vs externally paced movements). UFMs were monitored with a sensor-engineered glove, and a quantitative evaluation of the following parameters was performed: touch duration (TD); inter-tapping interval (ITI); timing error (TE); and number of errors (NE). 1-Hz rTMS over ipsilateral M1 was able to affect the performance of a sequence of finger opposition movements in a metronome-paced condition, significantly increasing TD and reducing ITI without TE changes. The effects on motor behaviour had a different magnitude as a function of the sequence complexity. Further, we found a different effect of the ipsilateral 1-Hz rTMS on externally paced movements with respect to an internally paced condition. All these findings indicate that ipsilateral M1 plays an important role in the execution of sequential UFMs. Interestingly, NE did not change in any experimental condition, suggesting that ipsilateral M1 influences only the temporal and not the spatial accuracy of UFMs. Finally, the duration (up to 30 min) of 1-Hz rTMS effects on ipsilateral M1 can indicate its direct action on the mechanisms of cortical plasticity, suggesting that rTMS can be used to modulate the communication between the two hemispheres in rehabilitative protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Avanzino
- Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology and Genetics, University of Genoa, Italy
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