Functional Localization of an Attenuating Filter within Cortex for a Selective Detection Task in Mice

AbstractAn essential feature of goal-directed behavior is the ability to selectively respond to the diverse stimuli in one’s environment. However, the neural mechanisms that enable us to respond to target stimuli while ignoring distractor stimuli are poorly understood. To study this sensory selection process, we trained male and female mice in a selective detection task in which mice learn to respond to rapid stimuli in the target whisker field and ignore identical stimuli in the opposite, distractor whisker field. In expert mice, we used widefield Ca2+ imaging to analyze target-related and distractor-related neural responses throughout dorsal cortex. For target stimuli, we observed strong signal activation in primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and frontal cortices, including both the whisker representation of primary motor cortex (wMC) and anterior lateral motor cortex (ALM). For distractor stimuli, we observe strong signal activation in S1, with minimal propagation to frontal cortex. Our data support only modest subcortical filtering, with robust, step-like attenuation in distractor processing between mono-synaptically coupled regions of S1 and wMC. This study establishes a highly robust model system for studying the neural mechanisms of sensory selection and places important constraints on its implementation.SummaryResponding to task-relevant stimuli while ignoring task-irrelevant stimuli is critical for goal-directed behavior. Yet, the neural mechanisms involved in this selection process are poorly understood. We trained mice in a detection task with both target and distractor stimuli. During expert performance, we measured neural activity throughout cortex using widefield imaging. We observed responses to target stimuli in multiple sensory and motor cortical regions. In contrast, responses to distractor stimuli were abruptly suppressed beyond sensory cortex. Our findings localize the sites of attenuation when successfully ignoring a distractor stimulus, and provide essential foundations for further revealing the neural mechanism of sensory selection and distractor suppression.

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Neural mechanisms underlying the changes in ipsilateral primary motor cortex excitability during unilateral rhythmic muscle contraction

Behavioural Brain Research ◽

10.1016/j.bbr.2012.10.053 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 240 ◽

pp. 33-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Kazumasa Uehara ◽

Takuya Morishita ◽

Shinji Kubota ◽

Kozo Funase

Keyword(s):

Motor Cortex ◽

Muscle Contraction ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Neural Mechanisms ◽

Motor Cortex Excitability

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Neural Activity in Human Primary Motor Cortex Areas 4a and 4p Is Modulated Differentially by Attention to Action

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.2002.88.1.514 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 88 (1) ◽

pp. 514-519 ◽

Cited By ~ 95

Author(s):

F. Binkofski ◽

G. R. Fink ◽

S. Geyer ◽

G. Buccino ◽

O. Gruber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Motor Cortex ◽

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Neural Activity ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Direct Evidence ◽

Neural Mechanisms ◽

Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽

Resonance Imaging

The mechanisms underlying attention to action are poorly understood. Although distracted by something else, we often maintain the accuracy of a movement, which suggests that differential neural mechanisms for the control of attended and nonattended action exist. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in normal volunteers and probabilistic cytoarchitectonic maps, we observed that neural activity in subarea 4p (posterior) within the primary motor cortex was modulated by attention to action, while neural activity in subarea 4a (anterior) was not. The data provide the direct evidence for differential neural mechanisms during attended and unattended action in human primary motor cortex.

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Motor imagery practice during arm-immobilization benefits sensorimotor cortical functions and plasticity-related sleep features

10.1101/828889 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ursula Debarnot ◽

Aurore. A. Perrault ◽

Virginie Sterpenich ◽

Guillaume Legendre ◽

Chieko Huber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Motor Cortex ◽

Motor Imagery ◽

Rem Sleep ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Cortical Excitability ◽

Neural Mechanisms ◽

Sleep Spindles ◽

Cortical Representations ◽

Cortical Functions

ABSTRACTMotor imagery (MI) is known to engage motor networks and could compensate for the maladaptive neuroplasticity elicited by immobilization. This hypothesis and associated underlying neural mechanisms remain underexplored. Here, we investigated how MI practice during 11 h of arm-immobilization influences sensorimotor and cortical representations of the hands, as well as sleep. Fourteen participants were first tested after a normal day, followed by two 11-h periods of immobilization, either with concomitant MI treatment or control tasks. Data revealed that MI prevented the consequences of immobilization: (i) alteration of the sensorimotor representation of hands, (ii) decrease of cortical excitability over the primary motor cortex (M1) contralateral to arm-immobilization, and (iii) reduction of sleep spindles over both M1s. Furthermore, (iv) the time spent in REM sleep was significantly longer after MI. These results support that implementing MI during immobilization can limit the deleterious effects of limb disuse, at several levels of sensorimotor functioning.

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Paired-pulse TMS and scalp EEG reveal systematic relationship between inhibitory GABAa signaling in M1 and fronto-central cortical activity during action stopping

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00571.2020 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 125 (2) ◽

pp. 648-660

Author(s):

Megan Hynd ◽

Cheol Soh ◽

Benjamin O. Rangel ◽

Jan R. Wessel

Keyword(s):

Motor Cortex ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Neural Mechanisms ◽

Central Control ◽

Neural Signals ◽

Scalp Eeg ◽

Rapid Action ◽

First Time ◽

Inhibitory Motor Control ◽

Intense Debate

The neural mechanisms underlying rapid action stopping in humans are subject to intense debate, in part because recordings of neural signals purportedly reflecting inhibitory motor control are hard to directly relate to the true, physiological inhibition of motor cortex. For the first time, the current study combines EEG and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) methods to demonstrate a direct correspondence between fronto-central control-related EEG activity following signals to cancel an action and the physiological inhibition of primary motor cortex.

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Brain Oscillatory Coupling during Motor Control as a Potential Biomarker for Autism Spectrum Disorders: a comparative study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-40571/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kyung-min An ◽

Takashi Ikeda ◽

Tetsu Hirosawa ◽

Chiaki Hasegawa ◽

Yuko Yoshimura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Motor Cortex ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Neural Mechanisms ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Motor Dysfunction ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorder Group ◽

Oscillatory Coupling ◽

Phase Amplitude

Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often involves dysfunction in general motor control and motor coordination, in addition to core symptoms. However, the neural mechanisms underlying motor dysfunction in ASD are poorly understood. To elucidate this issue, we focused on brain oscillations and their coupling in the primary motor cortex (M1). Methods We recorded magnetoencephalography in 18 children with autism spectrum disorder, aged 5 to 7 years, and 19 age- and IQ-matched typically-developing children while they pressed button during a video-game-like motor task. We measured motor-related gamma (70 to 90 Hz) and pre-movement beta oscillations (15 to 25 Hz) in the primary motor cortex. To determine the coupling between beta and gamma oscillations, we applied phase-amplitude coupling to calculate the statistical dependence between the amplitude of fast oscillations and the phase of slow oscillations. Results We observed a motor-related gamma increase and a pre-movement beta decrease in both groups. The autism spectrum disorder group exhibited a reduced motor-related gamma increase ( t(35) = 2.412, p = 0.021 ) and enhanced pre-movement beta decrease ( t(35) = 2.705, p = 0.010 ) in the ipsilateral primary motor cortex. We found the phase-amplitude coupling that the high-gamma activity modulated by the beta rhythm in the primary motor cortex. Phase-amplitude coupling in the ipsilateral primary motor cortex was reduced in the autism spectrum disorder group compared with the control group ( t(35) = 3.610, p = 0.001 ). Using oscillatory changes and their coupling, linear discriminant analysis classified autism spectrum disorder and control groups with high accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 97.1%). Limitations Further studies with larger sample size and age range of data are warranted to confirm these effects. Conclusions The current findings revealed alterations in oscillations and oscillatory coupling reflecting the dysregulation of a motor gating mechanism in ASD. These results may be helpful for elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying motor dysfunction in ASD, suggesting the possibility of developing a biomarker for ASD diagnosis.

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