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Haddix C, Al-Bakri AF, Sunderam S. Prediction of isometric handgrip force from graded event-related desynchronization of the sensorimotor rhythm. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 34479215 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac23c0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) show promise as a direct line of communication between the brain and the outside world that could benefit those with impaired motor function. But the commands available for BCI operation are often limited by the ability of the decoder to differentiate between the many distinct motor or cognitive tasks that can be visualized or attempted. Simple binary command signals (e.g. right hand at rest versus movement) are therefore used due to their ability to produce large observable differences in neural recordings. At the same time, frequent command switching can impose greater demands on the subject's focus and takes time to learn. Here, we attempt to decode the degree of effort in a specific movement task to produce a graded and more flexible command signal.Approach.Fourteen healthy human subjects (nine male, five female) responded to visual cues by squeezing a hand dynamometer to different levels of predetermined force, guided by continuous visual feedback, while the electroencephalogram (EEG) and grip force were monitored. Movement-related EEG features were extracted and modeled to predict exerted force.Main results.We found that event-related desynchronization (ERD) of the 8-30 Hz mu-beta sensorimotor rhythm of the EEG is separable for different degrees of motor effort. Upon four-fold cross-validation, linear classifiers were found to predict grip force from an ERD vector with mean accuracies across subjects of 53% and 55% for the dominant and non-dominant hand, respectively. ERD amplitude increased with target force but appeared to pass through a trough that hinted at non-monotonic behavior.Significance.Our results suggest that modeling and interactive feedback based on the intended level of motor effort is feasible. The observed ERD trends suggest that different mechanisms may govern intermediate versus low and high degrees of motor effort. This may have utility in rehabilitative protocols for motor impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase Haddix
- F. Joseph Halcomb III, MD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, United States of America
| | - Amir F Al-Bakri
- F. Joseph Halcomb III, MD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, United States of America.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
| | - Sridhar Sunderam
- F. Joseph Halcomb III, MD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, United States of America
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2
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Branco MP, de Boer LM, Ramsey NF, Vansteensel MJ. Encoding of kinetic and kinematic movement parameters in the sensorimotor cortex: A Brain-Computer Interface perspective. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 50:2755-2772. [PMID: 30633413 PMCID: PMC6625947 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
For severely paralyzed people, Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) can potentially replace lost motor output and provide a brain-based control signal for augmentative and alternative communication devices or neuroprosthetics. Many BCIs focus on neuronal signals acquired from the hand area of the sensorimotor cortex, employing changes in the patterns of neuronal firing or spectral power associated with one or more types of hand movement. Hand and finger movement can be described by two groups of movement features, namely kinematics (spatial and motion aspects) and kinetics (muscles and forces). Despite extensive primate and human research, it is not fully understood how these features are represented in the SMC and how they lead to the appropriate movement. Yet, the available information may provide insight into which features are most suitable for BCI control. To that purpose, the current paper provides an in-depth review on the movement features encoded in the SMC. Even though there is no consensus on how exactly the SMC generates movement, we conclude that some parameters are well represented in the SMC and can be accurately used for BCI control with discrete as well as continuous feedback. However, the vast evidence also suggests that movement should be interpreted as a combination of multiple parameters rather than isolated ones, pleading for further exploration of sensorimotor control models for accurate BCI control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana P. Branco
- Brain Center Rudolf MagnusDepartment of Neurology and NeurosurgeryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | | | - Nick F. Ramsey
- Brain Center Rudolf MagnusDepartment of Neurology and NeurosurgeryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Mariska J. Vansteensel
- Brain Center Rudolf MagnusDepartment of Neurology and NeurosurgeryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
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3
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Grinband J, Steffener J, Razlighi QR, Stern Y. BOLD neurovascular coupling does not change significantly with normal aging. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 38:3538-3551. [PMID: 28419680 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of cognitive function that compare the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal across age groups often require the assumption that neurovascular coupling does not change with age. Tests of this assumption have produced mixed results regarding the strength of the coupling and its relative time course. Using deconvolution, we found that age does not have a significant effect on the time course of the hemodynamic impulse response function or on the slope of the BOLD versus stimulus duration relationship. These results suggest that in cognitive studies of healthy aging, group differences in BOLD activation are likely due to age-related changes in cognitive-neural interactions and information processing rather than to impairments in neurovascular coupling. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3538-3551, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Grinband
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York
| | - Jason Steffener
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ontario
| | - Qolamreza R Razlighi
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York
| | - Yaakov Stern
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York
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4
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Mayhew SD, Porcaro C, Tecchio F, Bagshaw AP. fMRI characterisation of widespread brain networks relevant for behavioural variability in fine hand motor control with and without visual feedback. Neuroimage 2017; 148:330-342. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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5
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Effects of cortical activations on enhancement of handgrip force during teeth clenching: An fMRI study. Neurosci Res 2014; 79:67-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2013.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2013] [Revised: 11/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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6
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7
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Mazzetto-Betti KC, Leoni RF, Pontes-Neto OM, Santos AC, Leite JP, Silva AC, de Araujo DB. The stability of the blood oxygenation level-dependent functional MRI response to motor tasks is altered in patients with chronic ischemic stroke. Stroke 2010; 41:1921-6. [PMID: 20705926 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.110.590471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Functional MRI is a powerful tool to investigate recovery of brain function in patients with stroke. An inherent assumption in functional MRI data analysis is that the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal is stable over the course of the examination. In this study, we evaluated the validity of such assumption in patients with chronic stroke. METHODS Fifteen patients performed a simple motor task with repeated epochs using the paretic and the unaffected hand in separate runs. The corresponding BOLD signal time courses were extracted from the primary and supplementary motor areas of both hemispheres. Statistical maps were obtained by the conventional General Linear Model and by a parametric General Linear Model. RESULTS Stable BOLD amplitude was observed when the task was executed with the unaffected hand. Conversely, the BOLD signal amplitude in both primary and supplementary motor areas was progressively attenuated in every patient when the task was executed with the paretic hand. The conventional General Linear Model analysis failed to detect brain activation during movement of the paretic hand. However, the proposed parametric General Linear Model corrected the misdetection problem and showed robust activation in both primary and supplementary motor areas. CONCLUSIONS The use of data analysis tools that are built on the premise of a stable BOLD signal may lead to misdetection of functional regions and underestimation of brain activity in patients with stroke. The present data urge the use of caution when relying on the BOLD response as a marker of brain reorganization in patients with stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelley C Mazzetto-Betti
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavoral Sciences, FMRP, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
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8
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Sehm B, Perez MA, Xu B, Hidler J, Cohen LG. Functional neuroanatomy of mirroring during a unimanual force generation task. Cereb Cortex 2010; 20:34-45. [PMID: 19435709 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhp075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Performance of a unimanual motor task often induces involuntary mirror electromyographic (EMG) activity in the opposite, resting hand. In spite of the ubiquitous presence of mirroring, little is known regarding the underlying cortical contributions. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study brain regions activated in association with parametric increases in right isometric wrist flexion force (10%, 20%, 30%, and 70%) in 12 healthy volunteers. During scanning, EMG activity was recorded bilaterally from flexor carpi radialis (FCR), extensor carpi radialis (ECR), biceps brachii (BB), and triceps brachii (TB). Mirror EMG was observed in left FCR during 20%, 30%, and 70% of force. Left ECR, BB, and TB showed mirror EMG only at 70% of force. Increasing force was associated with a linear increase of blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal in bilateral primary motor cortex (M1), supplementary motor area (SMA), caudal cingulate, and cerebellum. Mirroring in the left FCR correlated with activity in bilateral M1, SMA, and the cerebellum. Overall, our results suggest that activity in these regions might reflect sensorimotor processes operating in association with mirroring and suggest caution when interpreting fMRI activity in studies that involve unilateral force generation tasks in the absence of simultaneous bilateral EMG/kinematics measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Sehm
- Human Cortical Physiology Section and Stroke Neurorehabilitation, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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9
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Keisker B, Hepp-Reymond MC, Blickenstorfer A, Kollias SS. Differential representation of dynamic and static power grip force in the sensorimotor network. Eur J Neurosci 2010; 31:1483-91. [PMID: 20384781 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2010.07172.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies investigating the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in the human sensorimotor cortex during static force (maintained for a few seconds) and dynamic force (repetitive force pulses) resulted in contradictory findings. Therefore, we conducted a whole-brain functional magnetic resonance imaging study during a visuomotor task requiring the production of either dynamic or static power grip force. Thereby we aimed at clarifying whether the BOLD signal behaves differently with dynamic and static force in the primary motor cortex, and whether it behaves in the same way in all areas and regions involved in force production. In the static condition, participants applied visually guided, isometric grip force on a dynamometer of 20% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and held this force for 21 s. In the dynamic condition, self-paced force pulses of 20% MVC were produced at a rate of 0.5 Hz. Static and dynamic force production activated an overlapping network of sensorimotor cortical and subcortical regions. However, the production of a significantly higher mean static force compared with the dynamic force resulted in a significantly smaller BOLD signal in the contralateral motor cortex, confirming observations of an earlier investigation. In addition, we found that the ipsilateral anterior cerebellum behaved similar to the motor cortex, whereas in all other activated regions the activation during static and dynamic force did not significantly differ. These findings demonstrate that various regions of the sensorimotor network participate differentially in the production and control of low static and dynamic grip force, and raise important questions concerning the interpretation of the BOLD signal with respect to mechanisms of neurovascular coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Keisker
- Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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10
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Carvalho SMF, Pontes-Neto OM, Fabio SRC, Leite JP, Santos AC, de Araujo DB. Rapid BOLD fMRI signal loss in the primary motor cortex of a stroke patient. ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2009; 66:885-7. [PMID: 19099132 DOI: 10.1590/s0004-282x2008000600022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia M Fioravanti Carvalho
- Department of Neurology, Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil
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11
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Keisker B, Hepp-Reymond MC, Blickenstorfer A, Meyer M, Kollias SS. Differential force scaling of fine-graded power grip force in the sensorimotor network. Hum Brain Mapp 2009; 30:2453-65. [PMID: 19172654 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.20676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Force scaling in the sensorimotor network during generation and control of static or dynamic grip force has been the subject of many investigations in monkeys and human subjects. In human, the relationship between BOLD signal in cortical and subcortical regions and force still remains controversial. With respect to grip force, the modulation of the BOLD signal has been mostly studied for forces often reaching high levels while little attention has been given to the low range for which electrophysiological neuronal correlates have been demonstrated. We thus conducted a whole-brain fMRI study on the control of fine-graded force in the low range, using a power grip and three force conditions in a block design. Participants generated on a dynamometer visually guided repetitive force pulses (ca. 0.5 Hz), reaching target forces of 10%, 20%, and 30% of maximum voluntary contraction. Regions of interest analysis disclosed activation in the entire cortical and subcortical sensorimotor network and significant force-related modulation in several regions, including primary motor (M1) and somatosensory cortex, ventral premotor and inferior parietal areas, and cerebellum. The BOLD signal, however, increased monotonically with force only in contralateral M1 and ipsilateral anterior cerebellum. The remaining regions were activated with force in various nonlinear manners, suggesting that other factors such as visual input, attention, and muscle recruitment also modulate the BOLD signal in this visuomotor task. These findings demonstrate that various regions of the sensorimotor network participate differentially in the production and control of fine-graded grip forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Keisker
- Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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12
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Kuhtz-Buschbeck JP, Gilster R, Wolff S, Ulmer S, Siebner H, Jansen O. Brain activity is similar during precision and power gripping with light force: an fMRI study. Neuroimage 2008; 40:1469-81. [PMID: 18316207 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2007] [Revised: 01/07/2008] [Accepted: 01/21/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Handgrips can be broadly classified into precision and power grips. To compare central neuronal control of these tasks, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used in 14 healthy right-handed volunteers, who repetitively squeezed non-flexible force transducers with a precision grip and a power grip of the dominant hand. The relative grip force levels and movement rates (0.45 Hertz) of both tasks were comparable. Peak isometric grip forces ranged between 1% and 10% of the maximum voluntary force. Reflecting the additional recruitment of extrinsic hand muscles and the higher absolute force, activation of the contralateral primary sensorimotor cortex (M1/S1) and ipsilateral cerebellum was significantly stronger during power than during precision grip. No brain areas exhibited stronger activity during the precision grip than during the power grip. The left M1/S1 and right cerebellum showed a positive linear relationship with the grip force, while the right angular gyrus and left superior frontal gyrus showed a gradual increase in activity when less force was applied. However, these force-dependent modulations of brain activity were similar for the precision and power grip tasks. No brain region was specifically activated during one task but not during the other. Activity during precision gripping did not exceed the activity associated with power gripping possibly because the precision grip task was not challenging enough to call on dexterous fine motor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Kuhtz-Buschbeck
- Institute of Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Olshausenstr. 40, D 24098 Kiel, Germany.
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13
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Obhi SS. Evidence for feedback dependent conscious awareness of action. Brain Res 2007; 1161:88-94. [PMID: 17610853 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2007.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2006] [Revised: 01/26/2007] [Accepted: 06/03/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the sources of conscious awareness of action, participants made judgments about the initiation times of active and passive key press movements that were either forceful or soft. After each trial, participants made judgments about when they moved by reporting the position of a rotating clock hand at the time they pressed the key. Judgment error was calculated as the difference between the actual and judged time of movement. Results showed that awareness of action for both active and passive movements was anticipatory and identical and that judgments of forceful movements were less anticipatory than judgments of soft movements. This suggests that the signal underlying conscious awareness of movement initiation in this experiment was not premotor, but instead related to sensory feedback arising from the movement. This work, in conjunction with other studies, suggests that the brain can use various sources of information to make conscious decisions about the timing of actions and that the source(s) used depend on prevailing task and operator constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukhvinder S Obhi
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ONT, Canada.
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14
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Spraker MB, Yu H, Corcos DM, Vaillancourt DE. Role of individual basal ganglia nuclei in force amplitude generation. J Neurophysiol 2007; 98:821-34. [PMID: 17567775 PMCID: PMC2367092 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00239.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loop is an important neural circuit that regulates motor control. A key parameter that the nervous system regulates is the level of force to exert against an object during tasks such as grasping. Previous studies indicate that the basal ganglia do not exhibit increased activity with increasing amplitude of force, although these conclusions are based mainly on the putamen. The present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate which regions in the basal ganglia, thalamus, and motor cortex display increased activity when producing pinch-grip contractions of increasing force amplitude. We found that the internal portion of the globus pallidus (GPi) and subthalamic nucleus (STN) had a positive increase in percent signal change with increasing force, whereas the external portion of the globus pallidus, anterior putamen, posterior putamen, and caudate did not. In the thalamus we found that the ventral thalamic regions increase in percent signal change and activation volume with increasing force amplitude. The contralateral and ipsilateral primary motor/somatosensory (M1/S1) cortices had a positive increase in percent signal change and activation volume with increasing force amplitude, and the contralateral M1/S1 had a greater increase in percent signal change and activation volume than the ipsilateral side. We also found that deactivation did not change across force in the motor cortex and basal ganglia, but that the ipsilateral M1/S1 had greater deactivation than the contralateral M1/S1. Our findings provide direct evidence that GPi and STN regulate the amplitude of force output. These findings emphasize the heterogeneous role of individual nuclei of the basal ganglia in regulating specific parameters of motor output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Spraker
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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15
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Maieron M, Iannetti GD, Bodurka J, Tracey I, Bandettini PA, Porro CA. Functional responses in the human spinal cord during willed motor actions: evidence for side- and rate-dependent activity. J Neurosci 2007; 27:4182-90. [PMID: 17428996 PMCID: PMC6672553 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3910-06.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the spinal cord is the output station of the central motor system, little is known about the relationships between its functional activity and willed movement parameters in humans. We investigated here blood oxygenation level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal changes in the cervical spinal cord during a simple finger-to-thumb opposition task in 13 right-handed volunteers, using a dedicated array of 16 receive-only surface coils on a 3 Tesla MRI system. In a first experiment, we found significant fMRI signal increases on both sides of the lower cervical spinal cord while subjects performed the motor task at a comfortable pace (approximately 0.5 Hz) using either hand. Both the spatial extent of movement-related clusters and peak signal increases were significantly higher on the side of the cord ipsilateral to the moving hand than on the contralateral side. Movement-related activity was consistently larger than signal fluctuations during rest. In a second experiment, we recorded spinal cord responses while the same motor sequence was performed using the dominant hand at two different rates (approximately 0.5 or 1 Hz). The intensity but not the spatial extent of the response was larger during higher rates, and it was higher on the ipsilateral side of the cord. Notwithstanding the limited spatial resolving power of the adopted technique, the present results clearly indicate that the finger movement-related fMRI signals recorded from the spinal cord have a neural origin and that as a result of recent technological advances, fMRI can be used to obtain novel and quantitative physiological information on the activity of spinal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Maieron
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy
- Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Facility and
- Dipartimento di Scienze Tecnologie Biomediche, Università di Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy, and
| | - Gian Domenico Iannetti
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, United Kingdom
| | | | - Irene Tracey
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, United Kingdom
| | - Peter A. Bandettini
- Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Facility and
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Carlo A. Porro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy
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Suminski AJ, Zimbelman JL, Scheidt RA. Design and validation of a MR-compatible pneumatic manipulandum. J Neurosci Methods 2007; 163:255-66. [PMID: 17498811 PMCID: PMC2040106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2007.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2006] [Revised: 03/15/2007] [Accepted: 03/16/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The combination of functional MR imaging and novel robotic tools may provide unique opportunities to probe the neural systems underlying motor control and learning. Here, we describe the design and validation of a MR-compatible, 1 degree-of-freedom pneumatic manipulandum along with experiments demonstrating its safety and efficacy. We first validated the robot's ability to apply computer-controlled loads about the wrist, demonstrating that it possesses sufficient bandwidth to simulate torsional spring-like loads during point-to-point flexion movements. Next, we verified the MR-compatibility of the device by imaging a head phantom during robot operation. We observed no systematic differences in two measures of MRI signal quality (signal/noise and field homogeneity) when the robot was introduced into the scanner environment. Likewise, measurements of joint angle and actuator pressure were not adversely affected by scanning. Finally, we verified device efficacy by scanning 20 healthy human subjects performing rapid wrist flexions against a wide range of spring-like loads. We observed a linear relationship between joint torque at peak movement extent and perturbation magnitude, thus demonstrating the robot's ability to simulate spring-like loads in situ. fMRI revealed task-related activation in regions known to contribute to the control of movement including the left primary sensorimotor cortex and right cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J. Suminski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI USA
| | | | - Robert A. Scheidt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA
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17
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Halder P, Brem S, Bucher K, Boujraf S, Summers P, Dietrich T, Kollias S, Martin E, Brandeis D. Electrophysiological and hemodynamic evidence for late maturation of hand power grip and force control under visual feedback. Hum Brain Mapp 2007; 28:69-84. [PMID: 16761271 PMCID: PMC6871411 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.20262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Several human imaging studies have described the neural network involved in power grip under visual control and the subset of cortical areas within this network that are sensitive to force modulation. As there is behavioral evidence for late maturation in even simple hand motor tasks involving visual feedback, we aimed at identifying the neural correlates of these developmental changes. Subjects from three developmental age groups (9-11, 15-17, and adults) performed the same power grip task in both a functional magnetic resonance imaging and an event-related potential (ERP) session. Trials started with a visual target indicating whether to squeeze at 20%, 40%, or 75% of their maximum and online visual feedback on the actual amount of force was provided. Longer reaction times and more shallow slopes of the force curve characterized the behavior of the younger age groups, especially the children. Both neurophysiological methods detected both general as well as force modulation-specific maturational changes. General development was characterized by decreasing ERP amplitudes and increasing deactivation of an extended network, closely resembling the so-called "default" network. The most pronounced developmental changes specific for force control were observed in an ERP component and brain regions involved in feedback processing. In contrast to adult subjects, we found evidence for a stronger dependency on visual feedback information in the younger age groups. Our results also suggest that the ability to deactivate task-irrelevant networks might be a late developmental achievement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Halder
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Brain Mapping Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Brem
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Brain Mapping Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kerstin Bucher
- MR‐Center, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Said Boujraf
- Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paul Summers
- Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Dietrich
- MR‐Center, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Spyros Kollias
- Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ernst Martin
- MR‐Center, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Brandeis
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Brain Mapping Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Roc AC, Wang J, Ances BM, Liebeskind DS, Kasner SE, Detre JA. Altered hemodynamics and regional cerebral blood flow in patients with hemodynamically significant stenoses. Stroke 2005; 37:382-7. [PMID: 16373653 DOI: 10.1161/01.str.0000198807.31299.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) contrast largely depends on changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF). Because cerebrovascular disease may result in altered CBF, we assessed the temporal dynamics and magnitude of the BOLD response in patients with major arterial stenoses. METHODS Seven patients with hemodynamically significant stenoses affecting the anterior circulation (primarily left internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries) were compared with 7 neurologically healthy subjects. Continuous arterial spin-labeled perfusion MRI was used to measure resting CBF globally and within various vascular distributions. The BOLD response was acquired during a visually guided bilateral handball squeeze task while motor performance was recorded by a pressure transducer. RESULTS Baseline CBF was reduced in bilateral middle cerebral artery and left anterior cerebral artery territories in patients. A prolonged BOLD hemodynamic response was observed in patients in bilateral primary motor cortices but not visual cortex. Patients also exhibited a larger early negative BOLD response, or "initial dip," in left primary motor cortex. There were no differences in motor performance between groups, suggesting behavioral differences were not primarily responsible for the characteristics of the BOLD response. CONCLUSIONS An initial deoxygenation followed by a delayed hyperemic BOLD response was observed in patients, although resting flow values were not within an ischemic range. A simple visuomotor BOLD activation paradigm can reflect alterations in the hemodynamic response in patients with hemodynamically significant stenoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C Roc
- Center for Functional Neuroimaging, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Soltysik DA, Peck KK, White KD, Crosson B, Briggs RW. Comparison of hemodynamic response nonlinearity across primary cortical areas. Neuroimage 2004; 22:1117-27. [PMID: 15219583 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2004.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2003] [Revised: 03/03/2004] [Accepted: 03/08/2004] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemodynamic responses to auditory and visual stimuli and motor tasks were assessed for the nonlinearity of response in each of the respective primary cortices. Five stimulus or task durations were used (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 s), and five male subjects (aged 19 +/- 1.9 years) were imaged. Two tests of linearity were conducted. The first test consisted of using BOLD responses to short stimuli to predict responses to longer stimuli. The second test consisted of fitting ideal impulse response functions to the observed responses for each event duration. Both methods show that the extent of the nonlinearity varies across cortices. Results for the second method indicate that the hemodynamic response is nonlinear for stimuli less than 10 s in the primary auditory cortex, nonlinear for tasks less than 7 s in the primary motor cortex, and nonlinear for stimuli less than 3 s in the primary visual cortex. In addition, neural adaptation functions were characterized that could model the observed nonlinearities.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Soltysik
- Department of Nuclear and Radiological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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Peck KK, Moore AB, Crosson BA, Gaiefsky M, Gopinath KS, White K, Briggs RW. Functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after aphasia therapy: shifts in hemodynamic time to peak during an overt language task. Stroke 2004; 35:554-9. [PMID: 14739418 DOI: 10.1161/01.str.0000110983.50753.9d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Comparing the temporal characteristics of hemodynamic responses in activated cortical regions of aphasic patients before and after therapy would provide insight into the relationship between improved task performance and changes in blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (fMRI) signal. This study investigated differences in the time to peak (TTP) of hemodynamic responses in activated regions of interest (ROIs), before and after therapy, and related them to changes in task performance. METHODS Three aphasic patients and 3 controls overtly generated a single exemplar in response to a category. For the patients, TTP of hemodynamic responses in selected ROIs was compared before and after language therapy. The timing differences between auditory cues and verbal responses were compared with TTP differences between auditory and motor cortices. RESULTS The selected ROIs were significantly activated in both aphasic patients and controls during overt word generation. In the aphasic patients, both the timing difference from auditory cues to verbal responses and the TTP difference between auditory and motor cortices decreased after rehabilitation, becoming similar to the values found in controls. CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate that (1) rehabilitation increased the speed of word-finding processes; (2) TTP analysis was sensitive to this functional change and can be used to represent improvement in behavior; and (3) it is important to monitor the behavioral performance that might correlate with the temporal pattern of the hemodynamic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung K Peck
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida, Box 100374, J.H. Miller Health Center, 1600 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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Newton J, Sunderland A, Butterworth SE, Peters AM, Peck KK, Gowland PA. A pilot study of event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging of monitored wrist movements in patients with partial recovery. Stroke 2002; 33:2881-7. [PMID: 12468786 DOI: 10.1161/01.str.0000042660.38883.56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous functional imaging studies of motor recovery after stroke have investigated cerebral activation during periods of repetitive, often complex, movement. This article reports the use of an event-related approach to study activation associated with isolated simple movements (wrist extension). This allows investigation of the pattern of the motor response and corresponding brain activation on a trial-by-trial basis. Patients with partial recovery can be assessed, and allowance can be made for abnormalities in the shape of hemodynamic responses. METHODS Functional MRI at 3 T was performed during a series of isolated, near-isometric wrist extension movements. A visual tracking procedure was used to elicit forces of 10% and 20% of maximum voluntary contraction. Force output from both wrists was monitored continuously. A voxel-wise procedure was used to fit the optimum hemodynamic response functions in each case. RESULTS Three chronic stage patients with partial recovery were successfully scanned and compared with 8 healthy controls. The patients showed well-lateralized motor responses but inaccurate control of force. During movement of the paretic wrist, we observed excessive activation of the ipsilateral primary motor cortex and increased relative activation of the supplementary motor area compared with movement of the nonparetic side. In the primary motor area, hemodynamic responses peaked more quickly on the ipsilateral side in 2 patients for movements of the paretic hand, whereas controls showed the opposite trend. CONCLUSIONS An event-related approach can be used to study the relationship between motor responses and cerebral activation in patients with partial recovery. These preliminary findings suggest that excessive activation in ipsilateral motor cortex and secondary motor areas remains evident under these tightly controlled conditions and cannot be ascribed to mirror movements or abnormalities in the timing of the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response. However, close monitoring of motor responses also makes evident continuing impairment in motor skill, which makes comparison with activation in normal controls difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Newton
- Division of Stroke Medicine, University of Nottingham, Notttingham, United Kingdom
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Luft AR, Smith GV, Forrester L, Whitall J, Macko RF, Hauser TK, Goldberg AP, Hanley DF. Comparing brain activation associated with isolated upper and lower limb movement across corresponding joints. Hum Brain Mapp 2002; 17:131-40. [PMID: 12353246 PMCID: PMC6872124 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.10058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
It was shown recently that functional activation across brain motor areas during locomotion and foot movements are similar but differ substantially from activation related to upper extremity movement (Miyai [2001]: Neuroimage 14:1186-1192). The activation pattern may be a function of the behavioral context of the movement rather than of its mechanical properties. We compare motor system activation patterns associated with isolated single-joint movement of corresponding joints in arm and leg carried out in equal frequency and range. Eleven healthy volunteers underwent BOLD-weighted fMRI while performing repetitive elbow or knee extension/flexion. To relate elbow and knee activation to the well-described patterns of finger movement, serial finger-to-thumb opposition was assessed in addition. After identifying task-related voxels using statistical parametric mapping, activation was measured in five regions of interest (ROI; primary motor [M1] and somatosensory cortex [S1], premotor cortex, supplementary motor area [SMA] divided into preSMA and SMA-proper, and cerebellum). Differences in the degree of activation across ROIs were found between elbow and knee movement. SMA-proper activation was prominent for knee, but almost absent for elbow movement (P < 0.05); finger movement produced small but constant SMA-proper activation. Ipsilateral M1 activation was detected during knee and finger movement, but was absent for the elbow task (P < 0.05). Knee movement showed less lateralization in M1 and S1 than other tasks (P < 0.05). The data demonstrate that central motor structures contribute differently to isolated elbow and knee movement. Activation during knee movement shows similarities to gait-related activation patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas R Luft
- Department of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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