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Tsay JS, Chandy AM, Chua R, Miall RC, Cole J, Farnè A, Ivry RB, Sarlegna FR. Minimal impact of proprioceptive loss on implicit sensorimotor adaptation and perceived movement outcome. bioRxiv 2024:2023.01.19.524726. [PMID: 36711691 PMCID: PMC9882375 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.19.524726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Implicit sensorimotor adaptation keeps our movements well-calibrated amid changes in the body and environment. We have recently postulated that implicit adaptation is driven by a perceptual error: the difference between the desired and perceived movement outcome. According to this perceptual re-alignment model, implicit adaptation ceases when the perceived movement outcome - a multimodal percept determined by a prior belief conveying the intended action, the motor command, and feedback from proprioception and vision - is aligned with the desired movement outcome. Here, we examined the role of proprioception in implicit motor adaptation and perceived movement outcome by examining individuals who lack proprioception. We used a modified visuomotor rotation task designed to isolate implicit adaptation and probe perceived outcome throughout the experiment. Surprisingly, implicit adaptation and perceived outcome were minimally impacted by deafferentation, posing a challenge to the perceptual re-alignment model of implicit adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan S Tsay
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley
| | - Anisha M Chandy
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley
| | - Romeo Chua
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jonathan Cole
- University Hospitals, Dorset and Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK
| | - Alessandro Farnè
- Integrative Multisensory Perception Action & Cognition Team - ImpAct, INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL), Lyon, France
| | - Richard B Ivry
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley
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Abdlkarim D, Di Luca M, Aves P, Maaroufi M, Yeo SH, Miall RC, Holland P, Galea JM. A methodological framework to assess the accuracy of virtual reality hand-tracking systems: A case study with the Meta Quest 2. Behav Res Methods 2024; 56:1052-1063. [PMID: 36781700 PMCID: PMC10830632 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-022-02051-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Optical markerless hand-tracking systems incorporated into virtual reality (VR) headsets are transforming the ability to assess fine motor skills in VR. This promises to have far-reaching implications for the increased applicability of VR across scientific, industrial, and clinical settings. However, so far, there are little data regarding the accuracy, delay, and overall performance of these types of hand-tracking systems. Here we present a novel methodological framework based on a fixed grid of targets, which can be easily applied to measure these systems' absolute positional error and delay. We also demonstrate a method to assess finger joint-angle accuracy. We used this framework to evaluate the Meta Quest 2 hand-tracking system. Our results showed an average fingertip positional error of 1.1cm, an average finger joint angle error of 9.6∘ and an average temporal delay of 45.0 ms. This methodological framework provides a powerful tool to ensure the reliability and validity of data originating from VR-based, markerless hand-tracking systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diar Abdlkarim
- University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK.
| | | | - Poppy Aves
- University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Sang-Hoon Yeo
- University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK
| | - R Chris Miall
- University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK
| | - Peter Holland
- University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, SE14 6NW, London, England
| | - Joeseph M Galea
- University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK
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Miall RC. Motor imagery, forward models and the cerebellum: a commentary on Rieger et al., 2023. Psychol Res 2024:10.1007/s00426-023-01916-7. [PMID: 38236401 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-023-01916-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
In this commentary on Rieger et al., Psychological Research Psychologische Forschung, 2023, I discuss possible ways to test the hypothesis that action imagery is achieved by simulations of actions through an internal forward model. These include brain imaging, perturbation through TMS, and psychophysical tests of adaptation of intended reach actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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Aloi D, Jalali R, Calzolari S, Lafanechere M, Miall RC, Fernández-Espejo D. Multi-session tDCS paired with passive mobilisation of the thumb modulates thalamo-cortical coupling during command following in the healthy brain. Neuroimage 2023; 274:120145. [PMID: 37121374 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic options to restore responsiveness in patients with prolonged disorder of consciousness (PDOC) are limited. We have recently shown that a single session of tDCS over M1 delivered at rest can reduce thalamic self-inhibition during motor command following. Here, we build upon this by exploring whether pairing tDCS with a concurrent passive mobilisation protocol can further influence thalamo-M1 dynamics and whether these changes are enhanced after multiple stimulation sessions. Specifically, we used Dynamic Causal Modelling (DCM) of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 22 healthy participants to assess changes on effective connectivity within the motor network during active thumb movements after 1 or 5 sessions of tDCS paired with passive mobilisations of the thumb. We found that a single anodal tDCS session (paired with passive mobilisation of the thumb) decreased self-inhibition in M1, with five sessions further enhancing this effect. In addition, anodal tDCS increased thalamo-M1 excitation as compared to cathodal stimulation, with the effects maintained after 5 sessions. Together, our results suggest that pairing anodal tDCS with passive mobilisation across multiple sessions may facilitate thalamo-cortical dynamics that are relevant for behavioural responsiveness in PDOC. More broadly, they offer a mechanistic window into the neural underpinnings of the cumulative effects of multi-session tDCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Aloi
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham
| | - Roya Jalali
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham
| | - Sara Calzolari
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham
| | - Melanie Lafanechere
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham
| | | | - Davinia Fernández-Espejo
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham.
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Weightman M, Lalji N, Lin CHS, Galea JM, Jenkinson N, Miall RC. Short duration event related cerebellar TDCS enhances visuomotor adaptation. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:431-441. [PMID: 36720304 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.01.1673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) is typically applied before or during a task, for periods ranging from 5 to 30 min. HYPOTHESIS We hypothesise that briefer stimulation epochs synchronous with individual task actions may be more effective. METHODS In two separate experiments, we applied brief bursts of event-related anodal stimulation (erTDCS) to the cerebellum during a visuomotor adaptation task. RESULTS The first study demonstrated that 1 s duration erTDCS time-locked to the participants' reaching actions enhanced adaptation significantly better than sham. A close replication in the second study demonstrated 0.5 s erTDCS synchronous with the reaching actions again resulted in better adaptation than standard TDCS, significantly better than sham. Stimulation either during the inter-trial intervals between movements or after movement, during assessment of visual feedback, had no significant effect. Because short duration stimulation with rapid onset and offset is more readily perceived by the participants, we additionally show that a non-electrical vibrotactile stimulation of the scalp, presented with the same timing as the erTDCS, had no significant effect. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that short duration, event related, anodal TDCS targeting the cerebellum enhances motor adaptation compared to the standard model. We discuss possible mechanisms of action and speculate on neural learning processes that may be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Weightman
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK; School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Neeraj Lalji
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Chin-Hsuan Sophie Lin
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Computational Psychiatry Lab, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Ned Jenkinson
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
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Weightman M, Brittain JS, Miall RC, Jenkinson N. Residual errors in visuomotor adaptation persist despite extended motor preparation periods. J Neurophysiol 2022; 127:519-528. [PMID: 35044854 PMCID: PMC8836731 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00301.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
A consistent finding in sensorimotor adaptation is a persistent undershoot of full compensation, such that performance asymptotes with residual errors greater than seen at baseline. This behavior has been attributed to limiting factors within the implicit adaptation system, which reaches a suboptimal equilibrium between trial-by-trial learning and forgetting. However, recent research has suggested that allowing longer motor planning periods prior to movement eliminates these residual errors. The additional planning time allows required cognitive processes to be completed before movement onset, thus increasing accuracy. Here, we looked to extend these findings by investigating the relationship between increased motor preparation time and the size of imposed visuomotor rotation (30°, 45°, or 60°), with regard to the final asymptotic level of adaptation. We found that restricting preparation time to 0.35 s impaired adaptation for moderate and larger rotations, resulting in larger residual errors compared to groups with additional preparation time. However, we found that even extended preparation time failed to eliminate persistent errors, regardless of magnitude of cursor rotation. Thus, the asymptote of adaptation was significantly less than the degree of imposed rotation, for all experimental groups. In addition, there was a positive relationship between asymptotic error and implicit retention. These data suggest that a prolonged motor preparation period is insufficient to reliably achieve complete adaptation, and therefore, our results suggest that factors beyond that of planning time contribute to asymptotic adaptation levels.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Residual errors in sensorimotor adaptation are commonly attributed to an equilibrium between trial-by-trial learning and forgetting. Recent research suggested that allowing sufficient time for mental rotation eliminates these errors. In a number of experimental conditions, we show that although restricted motor preparation time does limit adaptation-consistent with mental rotation-extending preparation time fails to eliminate the residual errors in motor adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Weightman
- 1School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,3MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,4Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - John-Stuart Brittain
- 2School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,4Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - R. Chris Miall
- 2School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,3MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,4Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ned Jenkinson
- 1School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,3MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,4Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Aloi D, Jalali R, Tilsley P, Miall RC, Fernández-Espejo D. tDCS modulates effective connectivity during motor command following; a potential therapeutic target for disorders of consciousness. Neuroimage 2021; 247:118781. [PMID: 34879252 PMCID: PMC8803542 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is attracting increasing interest as a potential therapeutic route for unresponsive patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC). However, research to date has had mixed results. Here, we propose a new direction by directly addressing the mechanisms underlying lack of responsiveness in PDOC, and using these to define our targets and the success of our intervention in the healthy brain first. We report 2 experiments that assess whether tDCS to the primary motor cortex (M1-tDCS; Experiment 1) and the cerebellum (cb-tDCS; Experiment 2) administered at rest modulate thalamo-cortical coupling in a subsequent command following task typically used to clinically assess awareness. Both experiments use sham- and polarity-controlled, randomised, double-blind, crossover designs. In Experiment 1, 22 participants received anodal, cathodal, and sham M1-tDCS sessions while in the MRI scanner. A further 22 participants received the same protocol with cb-tDCS in Experiment 2. We used Dynamic Causal Modelling of fMRI to characterise the effects of tDCS on brain activity and dynamics during simple thumb movements in response to command. We found that M1-tDCS increased thalamic excitation and that Cathodal cb-tDCS increased excitatory coupling from thalamus to M1. All these changes were polarity specific. Combined, our experiments demonstrate that tDCS can successfully modulate long range thalamo-cortical dynamics during command following via targeting of cortical regions. This suggests that M1- and cb-tDCS may allow PDOC patients to overcome the motor deficits at the root of their reduced responsiveness, improving their rehabilitation options and quality of life as a result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Aloi
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Roya Jalali
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Penelope Tilsley
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, UMR 7339, Marseille, France
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Davinia Fernández-Espejo
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
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Weightman M, Brittain JS, Miall RC, Jenkinson N. Direct and indirect effects of cathodal cerebellar TDCS on visuomotor adaptation of hand and arm movements. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4464. [PMID: 33627717 PMCID: PMC7904798 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83656-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptation of movements involving the proximal and distal upper-limb can be differentially facilitated by anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) over the cerebellum and primary motor cortex (M1). Here, we build on this evidence by demonstrating that cathodal TDCS impairs motor adaptation with a differentiation of the proximal and distal upper-limbs, relative to the site of stimulation. Healthy young adults received M1 or cerebellar cathodal TDCS while making fast 'shooting' movements towards targets under 60° rotated visual feedback conditions, using either whole-arm reaching or fine hand and finger movements. As predicted, we found that cathodal cerebellar TDCS resulted in impairment of adaptation of movements with the whole arm compared to M1 and sham groups, which proved significantly different during late adaptation. However, cathodal cerebellar TDCS also significantly enhanced adaptation of hand movements, which may reflect changes in the excitability of the pathway between the cerebellum and M1. We found no evidence for change of adaptation rates using arm or finger movements following cathodal TDCS directly over M1. These results are further evidence to support movement specific effects of TDCS, and highlight how the connectivity and functional organisation of the cerebellum and M1 must be considered when designing TDCS-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Weightman
- grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK ,grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK ,grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
| | - John-Stuart Brittain
- grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK ,grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
| | - R. Chris Miall
- grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK ,grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK ,grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
| | - Ned Jenkinson
- grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK ,grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK ,grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
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Abstract
Mossy fiber input to the cerebellum is received by granule cells where it is thought to be recoded into internal signals received by Purkinje cells, which alone carry the output of the cerebellar cortex. In any neural network, variables are contained in groups of signals as well as signals themselves—which cells are active and how many, for example, and statistical variables coded in rates, such as the mean and range, and which rates are strongly represented, in a defined population. We argue that the primary function of recoding is to confine translation to an effect of some variables and not others—both where input is recoded into internal signals and the translation downstream of internal signals into an effect on Purkinje cells. The cull of variables is harsh. Internal signaling is group coded. This allows coding to exploit statistics for a reliable and precise effect despite needing to work with high-dimensional input which is a highly unpredictably variable. An important effect is to normalize eclectic input signals, so that the basic, repeating cerebellar circuit, preserved across taxa, does not need to specialize (within regional variations). With this model, there is no need to slavishly conserve or compute data coded in single signals. If we are correct, a learning algorithm—for years, a mainstay of cerebellar modeling—would be redundant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike Gilbert
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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10
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Kitchen NM, Miall RC. Adaptation of reach action to a novel force-field is not predicted by acuity of dynamic proprioception in either older or younger adults. Exp Brain Res 2020; 239:557-574. [PMID: 33315127 PMCID: PMC7936968 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-020-05997-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Healthy ageing involves degeneration of the neuromuscular system which impacts movement control and proprioception. Yet the relationship between these sensory and motor deficits in upper limb reaching has not been examined in detail. Recently, we reported that age-related proprioceptive deficits were unrelated to accuracy in rapid arm movements, but whether this applied in motor tasks more heavily dependent on proprioceptive feedback was not clear. To address this, we have tested groups of younger and older adults on a force-field adaptation task under either full or limited visual feedback conditions and examined how performance was related to dynamic proprioceptive acuity. Adaptive performance was similar between the age groups, regardless of visual feedback condition, although older adults showed increased after-effects. Physically inactive individuals made larger systematic (but not variable) proprioceptive errors, irrespective of age. However, dynamic proprioceptive acuity was unrelated to adaptation and there was no consistent evidence of proprioceptive recalibration with adaptation to the force-field for any group. Finally, in spite of clear age-dependent loss of spatial working memory capacity, we found no relationship between memory capacity and adaptive performance or proprioceptive acuity. Thus, non-clinical levels of deficit in dynamic proprioception, due to age or physical inactivity, do not affect force-field adaptation, even under conditions of limited visual feedback that might require greater proprioceptive control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick M Kitchen
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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Coulborn S, Bowman H, Miall RC, Fernández-Espejo D. Effect of tDCS Over the Right Inferior Parietal Lobule on Mind-Wandering Propensity. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:230. [PMID: 32655387 PMCID: PMC7325883 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mind-wandering is associated with switching our attention to internally directed thoughts and is by definition an intrinsic, self-generated cognitive function. Interestingly, previous research showed that it may be possible to modulate its propensity externally, with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting different regions in the default mode and executive control networks (ECNs). However, these studies used highly heterogeneous montages (targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the right inferior parietal lobule (IPL), or both concurrently), often showed contradicting results, and in many cases failed to replicate. Our study aimed to establish whether tDCS of the default mode network (DMN), via targeting the right IPL alone, could modulate mind-wandering propensity using a within-subjects double-blind, counterbalanced design. Participants completed sustained attention to response task (SART) interspersed with thought-probes to capture their subjective reports of mind-wandering before and after receiving anodal, cathodal, or sham tDCS over the right IPL (with the reference over the left cheek). We found evidence for the lack of an effect of stimulation on subjective reports of mind-wandering (JZS-BF01 = 5.19), as well as on performance on the SART task (errors (JZS-BF01 = 6.79) and reaction time (JZS-BF01 = 5.94). Overall, we failed to replicate previous reports of successful modulations of mind-wandering propensity with tDCS over the IPL, instead of providing evidence in support of the lack of an effect. This and other recent unsuccessful replications call into question whether it is indeed possible to externally modulate spontaneous or self-generated cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Coulborn
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Howard Bowman
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Davinia Fernández-Espejo
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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12
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Weightman M, Brittain JS, Punt D, Miall RC, Jenkinson N. Targeted tDCS selectively improves motor adaptation with the proximal and distal upper limb. Brain Stimul 2020; 13:707-716. [PMID: 32289702 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2020.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cerebellum and primary motor cortex (M1) are crucial to coordinated and accurate movements of the upper limbs. There is also appreciable evidence that these two structures exert somewhat divergent influences upon proximal versus distal upper limb control. Here, we aimed to differentially regulate the contribution of the cerebellum and M1 to proximal and distal effectors during motor adaptation, with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). For this, we employed tasks that promote similar motor demands, but isolate whole arm from hand/finger movements, in order to functionally segregate the hierarchy of upper limb control. METHODS Both young and older adults took part in a visuomotor rotation task; where they adapted to a 60° visuomotor rotation using either a hand-held joystick (requiring finger/hand movements) or a 2D robotic manipulandum (requiring whole-arm reaching movements), while M1, cerebellar or sham tDCS was applied. RESULTS We found that cerebellar stimulation improved adaptation performance when arm movements were required to complete the task, while in contrast stimulation of M1 enhanced adaptation during hand and finger movements only. This double-dissociation was replicated in an independent group of older adults, demonstrating that the behaviour remains intact in ageing. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that stimulation of distinct motor areas can selectively improve motor adaptation in the proximal and distal upper limb. This also highlights new ways in which tDCS might be best applied to achieve reliable rehabilitation of upper limb motor deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Weightman
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - John-Stuart Brittain
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - David Punt
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Ned Jenkinson
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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Lin CH, Tierney TM, Holmes N, Boto E, Leggett J, Bestmann S, Bowtell R, Brookes MJ, Barnes GR, Miall RC. Using optically pumped magnetometers to measure magnetoencephalographic signals in the human cerebellum. J Physiol 2019; 597:4309-4324. [PMID: 31240719 PMCID: PMC6767854 DOI: 10.1113/jp277899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Key points The application of conventional cryogenic magnetoencephalography (MEG) to the study of cerebellar functions is highly limited because typical cryogenic sensor arrays are far away from the cerebellum and naturalistic movement is not allowed in the recording. A new generation of MEG using optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) that can be worn on the head during movement has opened up an opportunity to image the cerebellar electrophysiological activity non‐invasively. We use OPMs to record human cerebellar MEG signals elicited by air‐puff stimulation to the eye. We demonstrate robust responses in the cerebellum. OPMs pave the way for studying the neurophysiology of the human cerebellum.
Abstract We test the feasibility of an optically pumped magnetometer‐based magnetoencephalographic (OP‐MEG) system for the measurement of human cerebellar activity. This is to our knowledge the first study investigating the human cerebellar electrophysiology using optically pumped magnetometers. As a proof of principle, we use an air‐puff stimulus to the eyeball in order to elicit cerebellar activity that is well characterized in non‐human models. In three subjects, we observe an evoked component at approx. 50 ms post‐stimulus, followed by a second component at approx. 85–115 ms post‐stimulus. Source inversion localizes both components in the cerebellum, while control experiments exclude potential sources elsewhere. We also assess the induced oscillations, with time‐frequency decompositions, and identify additional sources in the occipital lobe, a region expected to be active in our paradigm, and in the neck muscles. Neither of these contributes to the stimulus‐evoked responses at 50–115 ms. We conclude that OP‐MEG technology offers a promising way to advance the understanding of the information processing mechanisms in the human cerebellum. The application of conventional cryogenic magnetoencephalography (MEG) to the study of cerebellar functions is highly limited because typical cryogenic sensor arrays are far away from the cerebellum and naturalistic movement is not allowed in the recording. A new generation of MEG using optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) that can be worn on the head during movement has opened up an opportunity to image the cerebellar electrophysiological activity non‐invasively. We use OPMs to record human cerebellar MEG signals elicited by air‐puff stimulation to the eye. We demonstrate robust responses in the cerebellum. OPMs pave the way for studying the neurophysiology of the human cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Hsuan Lin
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.,School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Tim M Tierney
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Niall Holmes
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Elena Boto
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - James Leggett
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Sven Bestmann
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Richard Bowtell
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Matthew J Brookes
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Gareth R Barnes
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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14
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Miall RC, Rosenthal O, Ørstavik K, Cole JD, Sarlegna FR. Loss of haptic feedback impairs control of hand posture: a study in chronically deafferented individuals when grasping and lifting objects. Exp Brain Res 2019; 237:2167-2184. [PMID: 31209510 PMCID: PMC6675781 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-019-05583-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Previous work has highlighted the role of haptic feedback for manual dexterity, in particular for the control of precision grip forces between the index finger and thumb. It is unclear how fine motor skills involving more than just two digits might be affected, especially given that loss of sensation from the hand affects many neurological patients, and impacts on everyday actions. To assess the functional consequences of haptic deficits on multi-digit grasp of objects, we studied the ability of three rare individuals with permanent large-fibre sensory loss involving the entire upper limb. All three reported difficulties in everyday manual actions (ABILHAND questionnaire). Their performance in a reach-grasp-lift task was compared to that of healthy controls. Twenty objects of varying shape, mass, opacity and compliance were used. In the reach-to-grasp phase, we found slower movement, larger grip aperture and less dynamic modulation of grip aperture in deafferented participants compared to controls. Hand posture during the lift phase also differed; deafferented participants often adopted hand postures that may have facilitated visual guidance, and/or reduced control complexity. For example, they would extend fingers that were not in contact with the object, or fold these fingers into the palm of the hand. Variability in hand postures was increased in deafferented participants, particularly for smaller objects. Our findings provide new insights into how the complex control required for whole hand actions is compromised by loss of haptic feedback, whose contribution is, thus, highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Orna Rosenthal
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | | | - Jonathan D Cole
- Centre of Postgraduate Research and Education, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK
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15
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Caligiore D, Arbib MA, Miall RC, Baldassarre G. The super-learning hypothesis: Integrating learning processes across cortex, cerebellum and basal ganglia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 100:19-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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16
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Kitchen NM, Miall RC. Proprioceptive deficits in inactive older adults are not reflected in fast targeted reaching movements. Exp Brain Res 2019; 237:531-545. [PMID: 30478636 PMCID: PMC6373199 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-018-5440-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
During normal healthy ageing there is a decline in the ability to control simple movements, characterised by increased reaction times, movement durations and variability. There is also growing evidence of age-related proprioceptive loss which may contribute to these impairments. However, this relationship has not been studied in detail for the upper limb. We recruited 20 younger adults (YAs) and 31 older adults (OAs) who each performed 2 tasks on a 2D robotic manipulandum. The first assessed dynamic proprioceptive acuity using active, multi-joint movements constrained by the robot to a pre-defined path. Participants made perceptual judgements of the lateral position of the unseen arm. The second task required fast, accurate and discrete movements to the same targets in the absence of visual feedback of the hand, and without robotic intervention. We predicted that the variable proprioceptive error (uncertainty range) assessed in Task 1 would be increased in physically inactive OAs and would predict increased movement variability in Task 2. Instead we found that physically inactive OAs had larger systematic proprioceptive errors (bias) than YAs (t[33] = 2.8, p = 0.009), and neither proprioceptive uncertainty nor bias was related to motor performance in either age group (all regression model R2 ≤ 0.06). We suggest that previously reported estimates of proprioceptive decline with ageing may be exaggerated by task demands and that the extent of these deficits is unrelated to control of discrete, rapid movement. The relationship between dynamic proprioceptive acuity and movement control in other tasks with greater emphasis on online feedback is still unclear and warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick M Kitchen
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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17
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Renault AG, Auvray M, Parseihian G, Miall RC, Cole J, Sarlegna FR. Does Proprioception Influence Human Spatial Cognition? A Study on Individuals With Massive Deafferentation. Front Psychol 2018; 9:1322. [PMID: 30131736 PMCID: PMC6090482 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
When navigating in a spatial environment or when hearing its description, we can develop a mental model which may be represented in the central nervous system in different coordinate systems such as an egocentric or allocentric reference frame. The way in which sensory experience influences the preferred reference frame has been studied with a particular interest for the role of vision. The present study investigated the influence of proprioception on human spatial cognition. To do so, we compared the abilities to form spatial models of two rare participants chronically deprived of proprioception (GL and IW) and healthy control participants. Participants listened to verbal descriptions of a spatial environment, and their ability to form and use a mental model was assessed with a distance-comparison task and a free-recall task. Given that the loss of proprioception has been suggested to specifically impair the egocentric reference frame, the deafferented individuals were expected to perform worse than controls when the spatial environment was described in an egocentric reference frame. Results revealed that in both tasks, one deafferented individual (GL) made more errors than controls while the other (IW) made less errors. On average, both GL and IW were slower to respond than controls, and reaction time was more variable for IW. Additionally, we found that GL but not IW was impaired compared to controls in visuo-spatial imagery, which was assessed with the Minnesota Paper Form Board Test. Overall, the main finding of this study is that proprioception can influence the time necessary to use spatial representations while other factors such as visuo-spatial abilities can influence the capacity to form accurate spatial representations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Malika Auvray
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC, CNRS, Institut des Systémes Intelligents et de Robotique (ISIR), Paris, France
| | | | - R. Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Cole
- Clinical Neurophysiology, Poole Hospital, and Centre of Postgraduate Research and Education, University of Bournemouth, Poole, United Kingdom
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18
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Panouillères MTN, Joundi RA, Benitez-Rivero S, Cheeran B, Butler CR, Németh AH, Miall RC, Jenkinson N. Author Correction: Sensorimotor adaptation as a behavioural biomarker of early spinocerebellar ataxia type 6. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7010. [PMID: 29712974 PMCID: PMC5928122 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25324-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Muriel T N Panouillères
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom. .,Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Raed A Joundi
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sonia Benitez-Rivero
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Binith Cheeran
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher R Butler
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea H Németh
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ned Jenkinson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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19
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Jalali R, Chowdhury A, Wilson M, Miall RC, Galea JM. Neural changes associated with cerebellar tDCS studied using MR spectroscopy. Exp Brain Res 2018; 236:997-1006. [PMID: 29404634 PMCID: PMC5887008 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-018-5170-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Anodal cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is known to enhance motor learning, and therefore, has been suggested to hold promise as a therapeutic intervention. However, the neural mechanisms underpinning the effects of cerebellar tDCS are currently unknown. We investigated the neural changes associated with cerebellar tDCS using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). 34 healthy participants were divided into two groups which received either concurrent anodal or sham cerebellar tDCS during a visuomotor adaptation task. The anodal group underwent an additional session involving MRS in which the main inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters: GABA and glutamate (Glu) were measured pre-, during, and post anodal cerebellar tDCS, but without the behavioural task. We found no significant group-level changes in GABA or glutamate during- or post-tDCS compared to pre-tDCS levels, however, there was large degree of variability across participants. Although cerebellar tDCS did not affect visuomotor adaptation, surprisingly cerebellar tDCS increased motor memory retention with this being strongly correlated with a decrease in cerebellar glutamate levels during tDCS across participants. This work provides novel insights regarding the neural mechanisms which may underlie cerebellar tDCS, but also reveals limitations in the ability to produce robust effects across participants and between studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roya Jalali
- Physical Sciences of Imaging in the Biomedical Sciences (PSIBS), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. .,School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Alimul Chowdhury
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.,Medical Physics, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK
| | - Martin Wilson
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Joseph M Galea
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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20
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Rosenthal O, Wing AM, Wyatt JL, Punt D, Miall RC. Mapping upper-limb motor performance after stroke - a novel method with utility for individualized motor training. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2017; 14:127. [PMID: 29208020 PMCID: PMC5718133 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-017-0335-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic upper limb motor impairment is a common outcome of stroke. Therapeutic training can reduce motor impairment. Recently, a growing interest in evaluating motor training provided by robotic assistive devices has emerged. Robot-assisted therapy is attractive because it provides a means of increasing practice intensity without increasing the workload of physical therapists. However, movements practised through robotic assistive devices are commonly pre-defined and fixed across individuals. More optimal training may result from individualizing the selection of the trained movements based on the individual’s impairment profile. This requires quantitative assessment of the degree of the motor impairment prior to training, in relevant movement tasks. However, standard clinical measures for profiling motor impairment after stroke are often subjective and lack precision. We have developed a novel robot-mediated method for systematic and fine-grained mapping (or profiling) of individual performance across a wide range of planar arm reaching movements. Here we describe and demonstrate this mapping method and its utilization for individualized training. We also present a novel principle for the individualized selection of training movements based on the performance maps. Methods and Results To demonstrate the utility of our method we present examples of 2D performance maps produced from the kinetic and kinematics data of two individuals with stroke-related upper limb hemiparesis. The maps outline distinct regions of high motor impairment. The procedure of map-based selection of training movements and the change in motor performance following training is demonstrated for one participant. Conclusions The performance mapping method is feasible to produce (online or offline). The 2D maps are easy to interpret and to be utilized for selecting individual performance-based training. Different performance maps can be easily compared within and between individuals, which potentially has diagnostic utility. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12984-017-0335-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orna Rosenthal
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK.
| | - Alan M Wing
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jeremy L Wyatt
- School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK
| | - David Punt
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK
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21
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Westwood SJ, Olson A, Miall RC, Romani C. tDCS modulation of naming in healthy participants: Negative results and still no explanation – A response to a commentary by Gauvin et al. (2017). Cortex 2017; 96:143-147. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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22
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Sokolov AA, Miall RC, Ivry RB. The Cerebellum: Adaptive Prediction for Movement and Cognition. Trends Cogn Sci 2017; 21:313-332. [PMID: 28385461 PMCID: PMC5477675 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2017.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 358] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Revised: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Over the past 30 years, cumulative evidence has indicated that cerebellar function extends beyond sensorimotor control. This view has emerged from studies of neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, neuropsychology, and brain stimulation, with the results implicating the cerebellum in domains as diverse as attention, language, executive function, and social cognition. Although the literature provides sophisticated models of how the cerebellum helps refine movements, it remains unclear how the core mechanisms of these models can be applied when considering a broader conceptualization of cerebellar function. In light of recent multidisciplinary findings, we examine how two key concepts that have been suggested as general computational principles of cerebellar function- prediction and error-based learning- might be relevant in the operation of cognitive cerebro-cerebellar loops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arseny A Sokolov
- Service de Neurologie, Département des Neurosciences Cliniques, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Richard B Ivry
- Department of Psychology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA
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23
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Jalali R, Miall RC, Galea JM. No consistent effect of cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation on visuomotor adaptation. J Neurophysiol 2017; 118:655-665. [PMID: 28298304 PMCID: PMC5539446 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00896.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) is known to enhance motor adaptation and thus holds promise as a therapeutic intervention. However, understanding the reliability of ctDCS across varying task parameters is crucial. To examine this, we investigated whether ctDCS enhanced visuomotor adaptation across a range of varying task parameters. We found ctDCS to have no consistent effect on visuomotor adaptation, questioning the validity of using ctDCS within a clinical context. Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) is known to enhance adaptation to a novel visual rotation (visuomotor adaptation), and it is suggested to hold promise as a therapeutic intervention. However, it is unknown whether this effect is robust across varying task parameters. This question is crucial if ctDCS is to be used clinically, because it must have a consistent and robust effect across a relatively wide range of behaviors. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of ctDCS on visuomotor adaptation across a wide range of task parameters that were systematically varied. Therefore, 192 young healthy individuals participated in 1 of 7 visuomotor adaptation experiments in either an anodal or sham ctDCS group. Each experiment examined whether ctDCS had a positive effect on adaptation when a unique feature of the task was altered: position of the monitor, offline tDCS, use of a tool, and perturbation schedule. Although we initially replicated the previously reported positive effect of ctDCS on visuomotor adaptation, this was not maintained during a second replication study or across a large range of varying task parameters. At the very least, this may call into question the validity of using ctDCS within a clinical context where a robust and consistent effect across behavior would be required. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) is known to enhance motor adaptation and thus holds promise as a therapeutic intervention. However, understanding the reliability of ctDCS across varying task parameters is crucial. To examine this, we investigated whether ctDCS enhanced visuomotor adaptation across a range of varying task parameters. We found ctDCS to have no consistent effect on visuomotor adaptation, questioning the validity of using ctDCS within a clinical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roya Jalali
- Physical Sciences of Imaging in the Biomedical Sciences, Doctoral Training Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; and .,School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph M Galea
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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24
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Westwood SJ, Olson A, Miall RC, Nappo R, Romani C. Limits to tDCS effects in language: Failures to modulate word production in healthy participants with frontal or temporal tDCS. Cortex 2017; 86:64-82. [PMID: 27912107 PMCID: PMC5264390 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2016.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a method of non-invasive brain stimulation widely used to modulate cognitive functions. Recent studies, however, suggests that effects are unreliable, small and often non-significant at least when stimulation is applied in a single session to healthy individuals. We examined the effects of frontal and temporal lobe anodal tDCS on naming and reading tasks and considered possible interactions with linguistic activation and selection mechanisms as well as possible interactions with item difficulty and participant individual variability. Across four separate experiments (N, Exp 1A = 18; 1B = 20; 1C = 18; 2 = 17), we failed to find any difference between real and sham stimulation. Moreover, we found no evidence of significant effects limited to particular conditions (i.e., those requiring suppression of semantic interference), to a subset of participants or to longer RTs. Our findings sound a cautionary note on using tDCS as a means to modulate cognitive performance. Consistent effects of tDCS may be difficult to demonstrate in healthy participants in reading and naming tasks, and be limited to cases of pathological neurophysiology and/or to the use of learning paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew Olson
- Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - R Chris Miall
- Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Raffaele Nappo
- Aston University, Life & Health Sciences, Birmingham, UK
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25
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Lesage E, Nailer EL, Miall RC. Cerebellar BOLD signal during the acquisition of a new lexicon predicts its early consolidation. Brain Lang 2016; 161:33-44. [PMID: 26303580 PMCID: PMC5066914 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2015.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Revised: 07/04/2015] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Cerebellar contributions to language are presently poorly understood, but it has been argued that the cerebellar role in motor learning can be extended to learning in cognitive and linguistic domains. Here, we used fMRI to investigate whether the cerebellum is recruited in mapping novel words onto existing semantic concepts. On separate days, participants performed a Basque vocabulary learning task and a control English synonym task in the MRI scanner. Learning-related BOLD activity was found in left inferior frontal gyrus, bilateral insula, pre-SMA, left superior parietal cortex, right caudate, the right cerebellar vermis and right cerebellar Crus II. The extent to which the cerebellar regions, but not the cerebral areas, were recruited during learning correlated positively with participants' off-line improvement in performance after the learning task. These data provide evidence for a cerebellar role in lexical learning, and suggest that the right cerebellum may contribute toward consolidation of lexico-semantic associations in the language network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Lesage
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK; Neuroimaging Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Emma L Nailer
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK; School of Education, University of Birmingham, UK
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26
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Lago-Rodriguez A, Miall RC. Online Visual Feedback during Error-Free Channel Trials Leads to Active Unlearning of Movement Dynamics: Evidence for Adaptation to Trajectory Prediction Errors. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:472. [PMID: 27721748 PMCID: PMC5033978 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Prolonged exposure to movement perturbations leads to creation of motor memories which decay towards previous states when the perturbations are removed. However, it remains unclear whether this decay is due only to a spontaneous and passive recovery of the previous state. It has recently been reported that activation of reinforcement-based learning mechanisms delays the onset of the decay. This raises the question whether other motor learning mechanisms may also contribute to the retention and/or decay of the motor memory. Therefore, we aimed to test whether mechanisms of error-based motor adaptation are active during the decay of the motor memory. Forty-five right-handed participants performed point-to-point reaching movements under an external dynamic perturbation. We measured the expression of the motor memory through error-clamped (EC) trials, in which lateral forces constrained movements to a straight line towards the target. We found greater and faster decay of the motor memory for participants who had access to full online visual feedback during these EC trials (Cursor group), when compared with participants who had no EC feedback regarding movement trajectory (Arc group). Importantly, we did not find between-group differences in adaptation to the external perturbation. In addition, we found greater decay of the motor memory when we artificially increased feedback errors through the manipulation of visual feedback (Augmented-Error group). Our results then support the notion of an active decay of the motor memory, suggesting that adaptive mechanisms are involved in correcting for the mismatch between predicted movement trajectories and actual sensory feedback, which leads to greater and faster decay of the motor memory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham Birmingham, UK
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Miall RC, Antony J, Goldsmith-Sumner A, Harding SR, McGovern C, Winter JL. Modulation of linguistic prediction by TDCS of the right lateral cerebellum. Neuropsychologia 2016; 86:103-9. [PMID: 27126840 PMCID: PMC4907126 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
It has been postulated recently that the cerebellum contributes the same prediction and learning functions to linguistic processing as it does towards motor control. For example, repetitive TMS over posterior-lateral cerebellum caused a significant loss in predictive language processing, as assessed by the latency of saccades to target items of spoken sentences, using the Visual World task. We aimed to assess the polarity-specific effects of cerebellar TDCS, hypothesising that cathodal TDCS should impair linguistic prediction, and anodal TDCS facilitate it. Our design also tested whether TDCS modulated associative learning in this task. A between groups (sham, anodal, cathodal) design was used, with concurrent stimulation during performance of a manual variation of the Visual World paradigm, and with assessment of latency reduction over repeated presentations of the spoken sentences. Mixed model ANOVA was used to analyse change in response latency. Cathodal TDCS decreased participants’ response time advantage for the predictable sentence items without change for non-predictable items, consistent with the previous TMS results. Furthermore, anodal stimulation enhanced the response time advantage for the predictable items, again without change in latencies for non-predictive items. We found a clear practice-based effect over 4 blocks. However, this difference was not significantly modulated by either anodal or cathodal stimulation. Our results therefore support the hypothesis that cerebellum contributes to predictive language processing, mirroring its predictive role in motor control, but we do not yet have evidence that the learning process was affected by cerebellar TDCS. Disruption of the lateral cerebellum with TMS impairs prediction in language processing. We now report the effect of anodal and cathodal TDCS, and assess short-term learning. Cathodal TDCS replicated the TMS effect, reducing linguistic prediction. Anodal TDCS reversed the effect, enhancing prediction; neither affected short-term learning. This work adds new evidence that the cerebellum contributes to predictive language processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | - J Antony
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | | | - S R Harding
- Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, WC1N 3AR
| | - C McGovern
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - J L Winter
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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29
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Lefumat HZ, Vercher JL, Miall RC, Cole J, Buloup F, Bringoux L, Bourdin C, Sarlegna FR. To transfer or not to transfer? Kinematics and laterality quotient predict interlimb transfer of motor learning. J Neurophysiol 2015; 114:2764-74. [PMID: 26334018 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00749.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans can remarkably adapt their motor behavior to novel environmental conditions, yet it remains unclear which factors enable us to transfer what we have learned with one limb to the other. Here we tested the hypothesis that interlimb transfer of sensorimotor adaptation is determined by environmental conditions but also by individual characteristics. We specifically examined the adaptation of unconstrained reaching movements to a novel Coriolis, velocity-dependent force field. Right-handed subjects sat at the center of a rotating platform and performed forward reaching movements with the upper limb toward flashed visual targets in prerotation, per-rotation (i.e., adaptation), and postrotation tests. Here only the dominant arm was used during adaptation and interlimb transfer was assessed by comparing performance of the nondominant arm before and after dominant-arm adaptation. Vision and no-vision conditions did not significantly influence interlimb transfer of trajectory adaptation, which on average was significant but limited. We uncovered a substantial heterogeneity of interlimb transfer across subjects and found that interlimb transfer can be qualitatively and quantitatively predicted for each healthy young individual. A classifier showed that in our study, interlimb transfer could be predicted based on the subject's task performance, most notably motor variability during learning, and his or her laterality quotient. Positive correlations suggested that variability of motor performance and lateralization of arm movement control facilitate interlimb transfer. We further show that these individual characteristics can predict the presence and the magnitude of interlimb transfer of left-handers. Overall, this study suggests that individual characteristics shape the way the nervous system can generalize motor learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Z Lefumat
- Aix-Marseille University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ISM UMR 7287, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Louis Vercher
- Aix-Marseille University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ISM UMR 7287, Marseille, France
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; and
| | - Jonathan Cole
- Clinical Neurophysiology, Poole Hospital, and School of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Buloup
- Aix-Marseille University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ISM UMR 7287, Marseille, France
| | - Lionel Bringoux
- Aix-Marseille University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ISM UMR 7287, Marseille, France
| | - Christophe Bourdin
- Aix-Marseille University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ISM UMR 7287, Marseille, France
| | - Fabrice R Sarlegna
- Aix-Marseille University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ISM UMR 7287, Marseille, France;
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Abstract
We previously speculated that depression of cerebellar excitability using cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) might release extra cognitive resources via the disinhibition of activity in prefrontal cortex. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether anodal tDCS over the prefrontal cortex could similarly improve performance when cognitive demands are high. Sixty-three right-handed participants in 3 separate groups performed the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) and the more difficult Paced Auditory Serial Subtraction Task (PASST), before and after 20 min of anodal, cathodal, or sham stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Performance was assessed in terms of the accuracy, latency, and variability of correct verbal responses. All behavioral measures significantly improved for the PASST after anodal DLPFC stimulation, but not the PASAT. There were smaller practice effects after cathodal and sham stimulation. Subjective ratings of attention and mental fatigue were unchanged by tDCS over time. We conclude that anodal stimulation over the left DLPFC can selectively improve performance on a difficult cognitive task involving arithmetic processing, verbal working memory, and attention. This result might be achieved by focally improving executive functions and/or cognitive capacity when tasks are difficult, rather than by improving levels of arousal/alertness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Pope
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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Grimaldi G, Argyropoulos GP, Bastian A, Cortes M, Davis NJ, Edwards DJ, Ferrucci R, Fregni F, Galea JM, Hamada M, Manto M, Miall RC, Morales-Quezada L, Pope PA, Priori A, Rothwell J, Tomlinson SP, Celnik P. Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (ctDCS): A Novel Approach to Understanding Cerebellar Function in Health and Disease. Neuroscientist 2014; 22:83-97. [PMID: 25406224 PMCID: PMC4712385 DOI: 10.1177/1073858414559409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum is critical for both motor and cognitive control. Dysfunction of the cerebellum is a component of multiple neurological disorders. In recent years, interventions have been developed that aim to excite or inhibit the activity and function of the human cerebellum. Transcranial direct current stimulation of the cerebellum (ctDCS) promises to be a powerful tool for the modulation of cerebellar excitability. This technique has gained popularity in recent years as it can be used to investigate human cerebellar function, is easily delivered, is well tolerated, and has not shown serious adverse effects. Importantly, the ability of ctDCS to modify behavior makes it an interesting approach with a potential therapeutic role for neurological patients. Through both electrical and non-electrical effects (vascular, metabolic) ctDCS is thought to modify the activity of the cerebellum and alter the output from cerebellar nuclei. Physiological studies have shown a polarity-specific effect on the modulation of cerebellar–motor cortex connectivity, likely via cerebellar–thalamocortical pathways. Modeling studies that have assessed commonly used electrode montages have shown that the ctDCS-generated electric field reaches the human cerebellum with little diffusion to neighboring structures. The posterior and inferior parts of the cerebellum (i.e., lobules VI-VIII) seem particularly susceptible to modulation by ctDCS. Numerous studies have shown to date that ctDCS can modulate motor learning, and affect cognitive and emotional processes. Importantly, this intervention has a good safety profile; similar to when applied over cerebral areas. Thus, investigations have begun exploring ctDCS as a viable intervention for patients with neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Georgios P Argyropoulos
- Department of Psychology, Brain, Action and Cognition Lab, University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
| | - Amy Bastian
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mar Cortes
- Burke Medical Research Institute, Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, White Plains, NY, USA
| | | | - Dylan J Edwards
- Burke Medical Research Institute, Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, White Plains, NY, USA
| | - Roberta Ferrucci
- Department of Medical-Surgical Pathophysiology and Transplants, University of Milan, Milan, Italy Clinical Center for Neurotechnology, Neurostimulation and Movement Disorders, Fondazione IRCCS "Ca' Granda" Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Felipe Fregni
- Center of Neuromodulation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph M Galea
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Masahi Hamada
- Department of Neurology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mario Manto
- Unité d'Etude du Mouvement, ULB-Erasme, Brussels, Belgium
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Leon Morales-Quezada
- Center of Neuromodulation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul A Pope
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Alberto Priori
- Department of Medical-Surgical Pathophysiology and Transplants, University of Milan, Milan, Italy Clinical Center for Neurotechnology, Neurostimulation and Movement Disorders, Fondazione IRCCS "Ca' Granda" Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - John Rothwell
- Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Pablo Celnik
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Grimaldi G, Argyropoulos GP, Boehringer A, Celnik P, Edwards MJ, Ferrucci R, Galea JM, Groiss SJ, Hiraoka K, Kassavetis P, Lesage E, Manto M, Miall RC, Priori A, Sadnicka A, Ugawa Y, Ziemann U. Non-invasive cerebellar stimulation--a consensus paper. Cerebellum 2014; 13:121-38. [PMID: 23943521 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-013-0514-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The field of neurostimulation of the cerebellum either with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS; single pulse or repetitive (rTMS)) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS; anodal or cathodal) is gaining popularity in the scientific community, in particular because these stimulation techniques are non-invasive and provide novel information on cerebellar functions. There is a consensus amongst the panel of experts that both TMS and tDCS can effectively influence cerebellar functions, not only in the motor domain, with effects on visually guided tracking tasks, motor surround inhibition, motor adaptation and learning, but also for the cognitive and affective operations handled by the cerebro-cerebellar circuits. Verbal working memory, semantic associations and predictive language processing are amongst these operations. Both TMS and tDCS modulate the connectivity between the cerebellum and the primary motor cortex, tuning cerebellar excitability. Cerebellar TMS is an effective and valuable method to evaluate the cerebello-thalamo-cortical loop functions and for the study of the pathophysiology of ataxia. In most circumstances, DCS induces a polarity-dependent site-specific modulation of cerebellar activity. Paired associative stimulation of the cerebello-dentato-thalamo-M1 pathway can induce bidirectional long-term spike-timing-dependent plasticity-like changes of corticospinal excitability. However, the panel of experts considers that several important issues still remain unresolved and require further research. In particular, the role of TMS in promoting cerebellar plasticity is not established. Moreover, the exact positioning of electrode stimulation and the duration of the after effects of tDCS remain unclear. Future studies are required to better define how DCS over particular regions of the cerebellum affects individual cerebellar symptoms, given the topographical organization of cerebellar symptoms. The long-term neural consequences of non-invasive cerebellar modulation are also unclear. Although there is an agreement that the clinical applications in cerebellar disorders are likely numerous, it is emphasized that rigorous large-scale clinical trials are missing. Further studies should be encouraged to better clarify the role of using non-invasive neurostimulation techniques over the cerebellum in motor, cognitive and psychiatric rehabilitation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Grimaldi
- Unité d'Etude du Mouvement, Hôpital Erasme-ULB, 808 Route de Lennik, 1070, Brussels, Belgium,
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Miall RC, Nam SH, Tchalenko J. The influence of stimulus format on drawing--a functional imaging study of decision making in portrait drawing. Neuroimage 2014; 102 Pt 2:608-19. [PMID: 25128710 PMCID: PMC4229501 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Revised: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
To copy a natural visual image as a line drawing, visual identification and extraction of features in the image must be guided by top-down decisions, and is usually influenced by prior knowledge. In parallel with other behavioral studies testing the relationship between eye and hand movements when drawing, we report here a functional brain imaging study in which we compared drawing of faces and abstract objects: the former can be strongly guided by prior knowledge, the latter less so. To manipulate the difficulty in extracting features to be drawn, each original image was presented in four formats including high contrast line drawings and silhouettes, and as high and low contrast photographic images. We confirmed the detailed eye–hand interaction measures reported in our other behavioral studies by using in-scanner eye-tracking and recording of pen movements with a touch screen. We also show that the brain activation pattern reflects the changes in presentation formats. In particular, by identifying the ventral and lateral occipital areas that were more highly activated during drawing of faces than abstract objects, we found a systematic increase in differential activation for the face-drawing condition, as the presentation format made the decisions more challenging. This study therefore supports theoretical models of how prior knowledge may influence perception in untrained participants, and lead to experience-driven perceptual modulation by trained artists. Drawing natural images requires feature identification and extraction. Top-down decisions and prior knowledge e.g. of faces guide this process. We used fMRI with concurrent eye tracking and measured drawing actions. Ventro-lateral occipital areas were more active drawing faces than abstract objects. There was also differential activity with more difficult stimulus formats.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Se-Ho Nam
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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Hardwick RM, Lesage E, Miall RC. Cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation: the role of coil geometry and tissue depth. Brain Stimul 2014; 7:643-9. [PMID: 24924734 PMCID: PMC4180011 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2014.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2014] [Revised: 04/26/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coil geometry has important effects on the evoked magnetic field, no study has systematically examined how different coil designs affect the effectiveness of cerebellar stimulation. HYPOTHESIS The depth of the cerebellar targets will limit efficiency. Angled coils designed to stimulate deeper tissue are more effective in eliciting cerebellar stimulation. METHODS Experiment 1 examined basic input-output properties of the figure-of-eight, batwing and double-cone coils, assessed with stimulation of motor cortex. Experiment 2 assessed the ability of each coil to activate cerebellum, using cerebellar-brain inhibition (CBI). Experiment 3 mapped distances from the scalp to cerebellar and motor cortical targets in a sample of 100 subjects' structural magnetic resonance images. RESULTS Experiment 1 showed batwing and double-cone coils have significantly lower resting motor thresholds, and recruitment curves with steeper slopes than the figure-of-eight coil. Experiment 2 showed the double-cone coil was the most efficient for eliciting CBI. The batwing coil induced CBI only at higher stimulus intensities. The figure-of-eight coil did not elicit reliable CBI. Experiment 3 confirmed that cerebellar tissue is significantly deeper than primary motor cortex tissue, and we provide a map of scalp-to-target distances. CONCLUSIONS The double-cone and batwing coils designed to stimulate deeper tissue can effectively stimulate cerebellar targets. The double-cone coil was found to be most effective. The depth map provides a guide to the accessible regions of the cerebellar volume. These results can guide coil selection and stimulation parameters when designing cerebellar TMS studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Hardwick
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Behavioural Brain Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
| | - Elise Lesage
- Behavioural Brain Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - R Chris Miall
- Behavioural Brain Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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Pope PA, Miall RC. Restoring cognitive functions using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in patients with cerebellar disorders. Front Psychiatry 2014; 5:33. [PMID: 24765079 PMCID: PMC3980102 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have highlighted the possibility of modulating the excitability of cerebro-cerebellar circuits bi-directionally using transcranial electrical brain stimulation, in a manner akin to that observed using magnetic stimulation protocols. It has been proposed that cerebellar stimulation activates Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex, leading to inhibition of the dentate nucleus, which exerts a tonic facilitatory drive onto motor and cognitive regions of cortex through a synaptic relay in the ventral-lateral thalamus. Some cerebellar deficits present with cognitive impairments if damage to non-motor regions of the cerebellum disrupts the coupling with cerebral cortical areas for thinking and reasoning. Indeed, white matter changes in the dentato-rubral tract correlate with cognitive assessments in patients with Friedreich ataxia, suggesting that this pathway is one component of the anatomical substrate supporting a cerebellar contribution to cognition. An understanding of the physiology of the cerebro-cerebellar pathway previously helped us to constrain our interpretation of results from two recent studies in which we showed cognitive enhancements in healthy participants during tests of arithmetic after electrical stimulation of the cerebellum, but only when task demands were high. Others studies have also shown how excitation of the prefrontal cortex can enhance performance in a variety of working memory tasks. Thus, future efforts might be guided toward neuro-enhancement in certain patient populations, using what is commonly termed "non-invasive brain stimulation" as a cognitive rehabilitation tool to modulate cerebro-cerebellar circuits, or for stimulation over the cerebral cortex to compensate for decreased cerebellar drive to this region. This article will address these possibilities with a review of the relevant literature covering ataxias and cerebellar cognitive affective disorders, which are characterized by thalamo-cortical disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Pope
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK
| | - R Chris Miall
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK
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36
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Caligiore D, Pezzulo G, Miall RC, Baldassarre G. The contribution of brain sub-cortical loops in the expression and acquisition of action understanding abilities. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2013; 37:2504-15. [PMID: 23911926 PMCID: PMC3878436 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Revised: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Focusing on cortical areas is too restrictive to explain action understanding ability. We propose that sub-cortical areas support action understanding ability. Cortical and sub-cortical processes allow acquisition of action understanding ability.
Research on action understanding in cognitive neuroscience has led to the identification of a wide “action understanding network” mainly encompassing parietal and premotor cortical areas. Within this cortical network mirror neurons are critically involved implementing a neural mechanism according to which, during action understanding, observed actions are reflected in the motor patterns for the same actions of the observer. We suggest that focusing only on cortical areas and processes could be too restrictive to explain important facets of action understanding regarding, for example, the influence of the observer's motor experience, the multiple levels at which an observed action can be understood, and the acquisition of action understanding ability. In this respect, we propose that aside from the cortical action understanding network, sub-cortical processes pivoting on cerebellar and basal ganglia cortical loops could crucially support both the expression and the acquisition of action understanding abilities. Within the paper we will discuss how this extended view can overcome some limitations of the “pure” cortical perspective, supporting new theoretical predictions on the brain mechanisms underlying action understanding that could be tested by future empirical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Caligiore
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie della Cognizione, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISTC-CNR), Via San Martino della Battaglia 44, I-00185, Rome, Italy.
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Abstract
This review will focus on the possibility that the cerebellum contains an internal model or models of the motor apparatus. Inverse internal models can provide the neural command necessary to achieve some desired trajectory. First, we review the necessity of such a model and the evidence, based on the ocular following response, that inverse models are found within the cerebellar circuitry. Forward internal models predict the consequences of actions and can be used to overcome time delays associated with feedback control. Secondly, we review the evidence that the cerebellum generates predictions using such a forward model. Finally, we review a computational model that includes multiple paired forward and inverse models and show how such an arrangement can be advantageous for motor learning and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Wolpert
- Sobell Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London, UK WC1N 3BG
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38
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Abstract
The human cerebellum plays an important role in language, amongst other cognitive and motor functions [1], but a unifying theoretical framework about cerebellar language function is lacking. In an established model of motor control, the cerebellum is seen as a predictive machine, making short-term estimations about the outcome of motor commands. This allows for flexible control, on-line correction, and coordination of movements [2]. The homogeneous cytoarchitecture of the cerebellar cortex suggests that similar computations occur throughout the structure, operating on different input signals and with different output targets [3]. Several authors have therefore argued that this ‘motor’ model may extend to cerebellar nonmotor functions [3–5], and that the cerebellum may support prediction in language processing [6]. However, this hypothesis has never been directly tested. Here, we used the ‘Visual World’ paradigm [7], where on-line processing of spoken sentence content can be assessed by recording the latencies of listeners' eye movements towards objects mentioned. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was used to disrupt function in the right cerebellum, a region implicated in language [8]. After cerebellar rTMS, listeners showed delayed eye fixations to target objects predicted by sentence content, while there was no effect on eye fixations in sentences without predictable content. The prediction deficit was absent in two control groups. Our findings support the hypothesis that computational operations performed by the cerebellum may support prediction during both motor control and language processing.
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Abstract
Neuroimaging studies have improved our understanding of which brain structures are involved in motor learning. Despite this, questions remain regarding the areas that contribute consistently across paradigms with different task demands. For instance, sensorimotor tasks focus on learning novel movement kinematics and dynamics, while serial response time task (SRTT) variants focus on sequence learning. These differing task demands are likely to elicit quantifiably different patterns of neural activity on top of a potentially consistent core network. The current study identified consistent activations across 70 motor learning experiments using activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis. A global analysis of all tasks revealed a bilateral cortical–subcortical network consistently underlying motor learning across tasks. Converging activations were revealed in the dorsal premotor cortex, supplementary motor cortex, primary motor cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, superior parietal lobule, thalamus, putamen and cerebellum. These activations were broadly consistent across task specific analyses that separated sensorimotor tasks and SRTT variants. Contrast analysis indicated that activity in the basal ganglia and cerebellum was significantly stronger for sensorimotor tasks, while activity in cortical structures and the thalamus was significantly stronger for SRTT variants. Additional conjunction analyses then indicated that the left dorsal premotor cortex was activated across all analyses considered, even when controlling for potential motor confounds. The highly consistent activation of the left dorsal premotor cortex suggests it is a critical node in the motor learning network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Hardwick
- Behavioural Brain Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK.
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40
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Rawle CJ, Miall RC, Praamstra P. Frontoparietal theta activity supports behavioral decisions in movement-target selection. Front Hum Neurosci 2012; 6:138. [PMID: 22629241 PMCID: PMC3355324 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2012] [Accepted: 04/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is recent EEG evidence describing task-related changes of theta power in spatial attention and reaching/pointing tasks. Here, we aim to better characterize this theta activity and determine whether it is associated with visuospatial memory or with visuospatial selection functions of the frontoparietal cortex. We recorded EEG from 20 participants during a movement precuing task with center-out joystick movements. Precues displayed 1, 2, or 4 potential targets and were followed (stimulus onset asynchrony 1.2 s) by a central response cue indicating the movement-target. Remembering the precued target location(s) was mandatory in one and optional in a second version of the task. Analyses evaluated two slow brain potentials (CNV, contingent negative variation and CDA, contralateral delay activity) and task-related power changes. Results showed a differential modulation of frontal CNV and parietal CDA, consistent with earlier described set-size effects on motor preparation and visual short-term memory. Short-lived phases of theta event-related synchronization (ERS) were found 150-500 ms after precue and response cue presentation, exhibiting parietal and frontal maxima. The increase of frontoparietal theta power following response cue presentation was strongly modulated by target load, i.e., absent for 1-target (when the movement-target could be selected in advance), contrasting with a robust 20-50% ERS response in 2- and 4-target conditions. The scalp distribution, the timing, and the modulation by set-size suggest a role of theta activity in movement-target selection. The results support a recently proposed view of theta as emerging around behavioral decision points, linked to the evaluation of choice-relevant information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian J Rawle
- School of Psychology, Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, University of Birmingham Birmingham, UK
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Pope PA, Miall RC. Task-specific facilitation of cognition by cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the cerebellum. Brain Stimul 2012; 5:84-94. [PMID: 22494832 PMCID: PMC3379560 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2012.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2012] [Revised: 03/08/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A role for the cerebellum in cognition is controversial, but it is a view that is becoming increasingly popular. The aim of the current study was to investigate this issue using transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) during two cognitive tasks that require comparable motor skills, but different levels of working memory and attention. Three groups of twenty-two participants each performed the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) and a novel variant of this task called the Paced Auditory Serial Subtraction Task (PASST), together with a verb generation task and its two controls, before and after the modulation of cortico-cerebellar connectivity using anodal or cathodal tDCS over the cerebellum. Participants’ performance in the difficult PASST task significantly improved after cathodal stimulation compared to sham or anodal stimulation. Improvement in the easier PASAT was equal across all three stimulation conditions. Improvement in verbal response latencies were also greatest during the PASST task after cathodal stimulation, compared to sham and anodal stimulation, and became less variable. Results for the verb generation task complimented those for the PASST, such that the rate and consistency of participants’ verbal responses were facilitated by cathodal stimulation, compared to sham and anodal stimulation. These findings suggest that DC stimulation over the right cerebellum affects working memory and attention differently depending on task difficulty. They support a role for the cerebellum in cognitive aspects of behaviour, whereby activity in the prefrontal cortex is likely dis-inhibited by cathodal tDCS stimulation over the right cerebellar cortex, which normally exerts an overall inhibitory tone on the cerebral cortex. We speculate that the cerebellum is capable of releasing cognitive resources by dis-inhibition of prefrontal regions of cerebral cortex, enhancing performance when tasks become demanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Pope
- Behavioural Brain Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
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Nazarpour K, Ethier C, Paninski L, Rebesco JM, Miall RC, Miller LE. EMG prediction from motor cortical recordings via a nonnegative point-process filter. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2011; 59:1829-38. [PMID: 21659018 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2011.2159115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
A constrained point-process filtering mechanism for prediction of electromyogram (EMG) signals from multichannel neural spike recordings is proposed here. Filters from the Kalman family are inherently suboptimal in dealing with non-Gaussian observations, or a state evolution that deviates from the Gaussianity assumption. To address these limitations, we modeled the non-Gaussian neural spike train observations by using a generalized linear model that encapsulates covariates of neural activity, including the neurons' own spiking history, concurrent ensemble activity, and extrinsic covariates (EMG signals). In order to predict the envelopes of EMGs, we reformulated the Kalman filter in an optimization framework and utilized a nonnegativity constraint. This structure characterizes the nonlinear correspondence between neural activity and EMG signals reasonably. The EMGs were recorded from 12 forearm and hand muscles of a behaving monkey during a grip-force task. In the case of limited training data, the constrained point-process filter improved the prediction accuracy when compared to a conventional Wiener cascade filter (a linear causal filter followed by a static nonlinearity) for different bin sizes and delays between input spikes and EMG output. For longer training datasets, results of the proposed filter and that of the Wiener cascade filter were comparable.
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Jenkinson N, Miall RC. Disruption of saccadic adaptation with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the posterior cerebellum in humans. Cerebellum 2011; 9:548-55. [PMID: 20665254 PMCID: PMC2996540 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-010-0193-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Saccadic eye movements are driven by motor commands that are continuously modified so that errors created by eye muscle fatigue, injury, or—in humans—wearing spectacles can be corrected. It is possible to rapidly adapt saccades in the laboratory by introducing a discrepancy between the intended and actual saccadic target. Neurophysiological and lesion studies in the non-human primate as well as neuroimaging and patient studies in humans have demonstrated that the oculomotor vermis (lobules VI and VII of the posterior cerebellum) is critical for saccadic adaptation. We studied the effect of transiently disrupting the function of posterior cerebellum with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the ability of healthy human subjects to adapt saccadic eye movements. rTMS significantly impaired the adaptation of the amplitude of saccades, without modulating saccadic amplitude or variability in baseline conditions. Moreover, increasing the intensity of rTMS produced a larger impairment in the ability to adapt saccadic size. These results provide direct evidence for the role of the posterior cerebellum in man and further evidence that TMS can modulate cerebellar function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ned Jenkinson
- Nuffield Department of Surgery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Abstract
Observation of self-produced hand movements through a mirror, creating an illusion of the opposite hand moving, was recently reported to induce ipsilateral motor cortex activation, that is, motor cortex activation for the hand in rest. The reported work goes far beyond earlier work on motor cortex activation induced by action observation, by implying a complete reversal of contralateral and ipsilateral motor cortex activation under mirror view conditions. Such a reversal would represent an unprecedented degree of neural plasticity. We considered such a reversal physiologically implausible and conducted a study with an improved design. The results refute the reversal of contralateral and ipsilateral motor cortex activation under mirrored viewing conditions as methodologically unsound. The investigation confirmed, however, more subtle expressions of motor cortical activity induced by self-produced movements observed through a mirror.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Praamstra
- Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
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Galea JM, Albert NB, Ditye T, Miall RC. Disruption of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex facilitates the consolidation of procedural skills. J Cogn Neurosci 2010; 22:1158-64. [PMID: 19413472 DOI: 10.1162/jocn.2009.21259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
In explicit sequence learning tasks, an improvement in performance (skill) typically occurs after sleep-leading to the recent literature on sleep-dependent motor consolidation. Consolidation can also be facilitated during wakefulness if declarative knowledge for the sequence is reduced through a secondary cognitive task. Accordingly, declarative and procedural consolidation processes appear to mutually interact. Here we used TMS to test the hypothesis that functions in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) that support declarative memory formation indirectly reduce the formation of procedural representations. We hypothesize that disrupting the DLPFC immediately after sequence learning would degrade the retention or the consolidation of the sequence within the declarative memory system and thus facilitate consolidation within procedural memory systems, evident as wakeful off-line skill improvement. Inhibitory theta-burst TMS was applied to the left DLPFC (n = 10), to the right DLPFC (n = 10), or to an occipital cortical control site (n = 10) immediately after training on the serial reaction time task (SRTT). All groups were retested after eight daytime hours without sleep. TMS of either left or right DLPFC lead to skill improvements on the SRTT. Increase in skill was greater following right DLPFC stimulation than left DLPFC stimulation; there was no improvement in skill for the control group. Across all participants, free recall of the sequence was inversely related to the improvements in performance on the SRTT. These results support the hypothesis of interference between declarative and procedural consolidation processes and are discussed in the framework of the interactions between memory systems.
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Jackson CPT, Miall RC, Balslev D. Spatially valid proprioceptive cues improve the detection of a visual stimulus. Exp Brain Res 2010; 205:31-40. [PMID: 20567807 PMCID: PMC2908745 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-010-2330-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2009] [Accepted: 06/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Vision and proprioception are the main sensory modalities that convey hand location and direction of movement. Fusion of these sensory signals into a single robust percept is now well documented. However, it is not known whether these modalities also interact in the spatial allocation of attention, which has been demonstrated for other modality pairings. The aim of this study was to test whether proprioceptive signals can spatially cue a visual target to improve its detection. Participants were instructed to use a planar manipulandum in a forward reaching action and determine during this movement whether a near-threshold visual target appeared at either of two lateral positions. The target presentation was followed by a masking stimulus, which made its possible location unambiguous, but not its presence. Proprioceptive cues were given by applying a brief lateral force to the participant's arm, either in the same direction (validly cued) or in the opposite direction (invalidly cued) to the on-screen location of the mask. The d' detection rate of the target increased when the direction of proprioceptive stimulus was compatible with the location of the visual target compared to when it was incompatible. These results suggest that proprioception influences the allocation of attention in visual space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl P. T. Jackson
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Botterell Hall, Rm. 234, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 Canada
- Behavioural Brain Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - R. Chris Miall
- Behavioural Brain Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Daniela Balslev
- Behavioural Brain Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
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Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated that Parkinson's disease patients have an increased susceptibility to response conflict. In the present study, the authors investigate whether Parkinson's patients have a similar sensitivity to interference from observed movements. In all, 10 patients and 10 controls performed horizontal and vertical arm movements while watching a video of either a person performing similar movements or a moving dot. Movements were performed in the same plane (congruent) and orthogonal to the observed movement (incongruent). The off-axis variance of movements was our index of interference. Although patients tended to exhibit more off-axis variability than did controls, both groups demonstrated similar congruence effects, with greater variance in incongruent conditions. These results indicated that increased susceptibility to interference in Parkinson's disease does not extend to interference from observed movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil B Albert
- Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, University of Birmingham, England
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Abstract
Everyday behaviour involves a trade-off between planned actions and reaction to environmental events. Evidence from neurophysiology, neurology and functional brain imaging suggests different neural bases for the control of different movement types. Here we develop a behavioural paradigm to test movement dynamics for intentional versus reaction movements and provide evidence for a 'reactive advantage' in movement execution, whereby the same action is executed faster in reaction to an opponent. We placed pairs of participants in competition with each other to make a series of button presses. Within-subject analysis of movement times revealed a 10 per cent benefit for reactive actions. This was maintained when opponents performed dissimilar actions, and when participants competed against a computer, suggesting that the effect is not related to facilitation produced by action observation. Rather, faster ballistic movements may be a general property of reactive motor control, potentially providing a useful means of promoting survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E Welchman
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
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Albert NB, Robertson EM, Mehta P, Miall RC. Resting state networks and memory consolidation. Commun Integr Biol 2010; 2:530-2. [PMID: 20195459 DOI: 10.4161/cib.2.6.9612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2009] [Accepted: 07/23/2009] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their name, resting state networks (RSNs) provide a clear indication that the human brain may be hard-working. Unlike the cardiac and respiratory systems, which greatly reduce their rate of function during periods of inactivity, the human brain may have additional responsibilities during rest. One particularly intriguing function performed by the resting brain is the consolidation of recent learned information, which is known to take place over a period of several hours after learning. We recently reported that resting state brain activity is modulated by recent learning. We measured the brain activity using functional MRI during periods of rest that preceded and followed learning of a sensorimotor task, and found a network of brain areas that changed their resting activity. These areas are known to be involved in the acquisition and memory of such sensorimotor tasks. Furthermore, the changes were specific to a task that required learning, and were not found after motor performance without learning. Here we discuss the implications and possible extensions of this work and its relevance to the study of memory consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil B Albert
- Department of Psychology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Abstract
The oculomotor and spatial attention systems are interconnected. Whereas a link between motor commands and spatial shifts in visual attention is demonstrated, it is still unknown whether the recently discovered proprioceptive signal in somatosensory cortex impacts on visual attention, too. This study investigated whether visual targets near the perceived direction of gaze are detected more accurately than targets further away, despite the equal eccentricity of their retinal projections. We dissociated real and perceived eye position using left somatosensory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which decreases cortical processing of eye muscle proprioceptive inflow and produces an underestimation of the rotation of the right eye. Participants detected near-threshold visual targets presented in the left or right visual hemifield at equal distance from fixation. We have previously shown that when the right eye is rotated to the left of the parasagittal plane, TMS produces an underestimation of this rotation, shifting perceived eye position to the right. Here we found that, in this condition, TMS also decreased target detection in the left visual hemifield and increased it in the right. This effect depended on the direction of rotation of the right eye. When the right eye was rotated rightward and TMS, we assume, shifted perceived gaze direction in opposite direction, leftward, visual accuracy decreased now in the right hemifield. We suggest that the proprioceptive eye position signal modulates the spatial distribution of visual processing resources, producing "pseudo-neglect" for objects located far relative to near the perceived direction of gaze.
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