Beta-band desynchronization reflects uncertainty in effector selection during motor planning

AbstractWhile beta-band activity during motor planning is known to be modulated by uncertainty about where to act, less is known about its modulations to uncertainty about how to act. To investigate this issue, we recorded oscillatory brain activity with EEG while human participants (n = 17) performed a hand choice reaching task. The reaching hand was either predetermined or of participants’ choice, and the target was close to one of the two hands or at about equal distance from both. To measure neural activity in a motion-artifact-free time window, the location of the upcoming target was cued 1000-1500 ms before the presentation of the target, whereby the cue was valid in 50% of trials. As evidence for motor planning during the cueing phase, behavioral observations showed that the cue affected later hand choice. Furthermore, reaction times were longer in the choice than in the predetermined trials, supporting the notion of a competitive process for hand selection. Modulations of beta-band power over central cortical regions, but not alpha-band or theta-band power, were in line with these observations. During the cueing period, reaches in predetermined trials were preceded by larger decreases in beta-band power than reaches in choice trials. Cue direction did not affect reaction times or beta-band power, which may be due to the cue being invalid in 50% of trials, retaining effector uncertainty during motor planning. Our findings suggest that effector uncertainty, similar to target uncertainty, selectively modulates beta-band power during motor planning.New & NoteworthyWhile reach-related beta-band power in central cortical areas is known to modulate with the number of potential targets, here we show, using a cueing paradigm, that the power in this frequency band, but not in the alpha or theta-band, is also modulated by the uncertainty of which hand to use. This finding supports the notion that multiple possible effector-specific actions can be specified in parallel up to the level of motor preparation.

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Beta-band desynchronization reflects uncertainty in effector selection during motor planning

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00198.2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Milou J.L. van Helvert ◽

Leonie Oostwoud Wijdenes ◽

Linda Geerligs ◽

W. Pieter Medendorp

Keyword(s):

Time Window ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Motor Planning ◽

Reaction Times ◽

Motion Artifact ◽

Beta Band ◽

Target Uncertainty ◽

Reaching Task ◽

Band Power ◽

Oscillatory Brain Activity

While beta-band activity during motor planning is known to be modulated by uncertainty about where to act, less is known about its modulations to uncertainty about how to act. To investigate this issue, we recorded oscillatory brain activity with EEG while human participants (n = 17) performed a hand choice reaching task. The reaching hand was either predetermined or of participants' choice, and the target was close to one of the two hands or at about equal distance from both. To measure neural activity in a motion-artifact-free time window, the location of the upcoming target was cued 1000-1500 ms before the presentation of the target, whereby the cue was valid in 50% of trials. As evidence for motor planning during the cueing phase, behavioral observations showed that the cue affected later hand choice. Furthermore, reaction times were longer in the choice than in the predetermined trials, supporting the notion of a competitive process for hand selection. Modulations of beta-band power over central cortical regions, but not alpha-band or theta-band power, were in line with these observations. During the cueing period, reaches in predetermined trials were preceded by larger decreases in beta-band power than reaches in choice trials. Cue direction did not affect reaction times or beta-band power, which may be due to the cue being invalid in 50% of trials, retaining effector uncertainty during motor planning. Our findings suggest that effector uncertainty, similar to target uncertainty, selectively modulates beta-band power during motor planning.

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Neural Encoding of the Reliability of Directional Information During the Preparation of Targeted Movements

Frontiers in Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnins.2021.679408 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

Author(s):

Charidimos Tzagarakis ◽

Sarah West ◽

Giuseppe Pellizzer

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Visual Information ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Reaction Times ◽

Motor Preparation ◽

Theta Band ◽

Beta Band ◽

Directional Information ◽

Reaching Task ◽

Band Power

Visual information about the location of an upcoming target can be used to prepare an appropriate motor response and reduce its reaction time. Here, we investigated the brain mechanisms associated with the reliability of directional information used for motor preparation. We recorded brain activity using magnetoencephalography (MEG) during a delayed reaching task in which a visual cue provided valid information about the location of the upcoming target with 50, 75, or 100% reliability. We found that reaction time increased as cue reliability decreased and that trials with invalid cues had longer reaction times than trials with valid cues. MEG channel analysis showed that during the late cue period the power of the beta-band from left mid-anterior channels, contralateral to the responding hand, correlated with the reliability of the cue. This effect was source localized over a large motor-related cortical and subcortical network. In addition, during invalid-cue trials there was a phasic increase of theta-band power following target onset from left posterior channels, localized to the left occipito-parietal cortex. Furthermore, the theta-beta cross-frequency coupling between left mid-occipital and motor cortex transiently increased before responses to invalid-cue trials. In conclusion, beta-band power in motor-related areas reflected the reliability of directional information used during motor preparation, whereas phasic theta-band activity may have signaled whether the target was at the expected location or not. These results elucidate mechanisms of interaction between attentional and motor processes.

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Neural encoding of reliability and validity of directional information during the preparation of targeted movements

10.1101/2020.09.17.302000 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Charidimos Tzagarakis ◽

Sarah West ◽

Giuseppe Pellizzer

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Visual Information ◽

Motor Response ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Motor Preparation ◽

Theta Band ◽

Beta Band ◽

Motor Processes ◽

Band Power ◽

The Brain

AbstractVisual information about an upcoming target can be used to prepare an appropriate motor response and reduce its reaction time. However, when the anticipation is incorrect and the planned response must be changed, the reaction time is lengthened. Here, we investigated the brain mechanisms associated with the reliability and validity of visual information used for motor preparation. We recorded brain activity using magnetoencephalography (MEG) during a delayed reaching task in which a visual cue provided valid information about the location of the upcoming target with 50, 75 or 100% reliability. We found that reaction time increased as cue reliability decreased and that trials with invalid cues had longer reaction times than trials with valid cues. MEG channel analysis showed that beta-band power from left mid-anterior channels correlated with the reliability of the cue after cue onset but before target onset. This effect was source localized over a large motor-related cortical and subcortical network. In addition, during invalid-cue trials there was a phasic increase of theta-band power following target onset from left posterior channels, localized to the left occipito-parietal cortex. Furthermore, the theta-beta cross-frequency coupling between left mid-occipital and motor cortex also transiently increased before responses to invalid-cue trials. In conclusion, beta-band power in motor-related areas reflected the reliability of visual information used during motor preparation, whereas phasic theta-band activity signaled whether the target was at the expected location or not. These results elucidate mechanisms of interaction between attentional and motor processes.Significance StatementWe used magnetoencephalography to investigate how the brain mechanisms preparing a motor response take into account the reliability of information about the upcoming location of a target to reach, and how these mechanisms adjust when that information turns out to be incorrect. We found that during the response preparation, the power of motor-related beta-band oscillations changed with the reliability of the visual information. In addition, we found that after the onset of the target the power of the left occipito-parietal theta-band signaled whether the prior information was correct or not. The pattern of activity of the beta-band and theta-band explain the pattern of latency of responses in the task, and demonstrate how attentional and motor processes interact.

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Retrospective confidence judgements in general-knowledge questions: Magnetoencephalograhy correlates

10.31234/osf.io/kcxqr ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Beatriz Martín-Luengo ◽

Dmitrii Altukhov ◽

Maria Alexeeva ◽

Alina Leminen

Keyword(s):

Linear Models ◽

Time Window ◽

Brain Activity ◽

General Knowledge ◽

Theta Band ◽

Mixed Effect ◽

Online Assessments ◽

Memory Monitoring ◽

The Brain

Memory monitoring processes are online assessments of the quality of our retrieval. Despite their importance for cognition, few studies on episodic memory and perceptual discrimination studied their neural dynamics and reported diverse results. Also, research showed increased theta in correct lexical identifications, but its monitoring was not investigated. We used MEG to study the brain activity underpinning memory monitoring of retrospective confidence judgments. 29 participants answered multiple-choice general knowledge questions and rated the confidence of their choice, while MEG was recorded. Mixed-effect linear models in the averaged single-trial responses showed a marginal difference for high versus low confidence answers in left dorso-parietal and occipital sensors at 260-320 ms after the presentation of alternatives. Signal power analysis in the 400-800 ms time window showed differences in theta band for low versus high confidence hits and miss trials. However, no differences were found for high hits and misses, which may reflect that in terms of monitoring, both answers are equal for participants. These results support the findings of increased theta power for correct semantic identification extending them to the monitoring processes.

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Distinct neural mechanisms and temporal constraints govern a cascade of audiotactile interactions

10.1101/446112 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Johanna M. Zumer ◽

Thomas P. White ◽

Uta Noppeney

Keyword(s):

Temporal Integration ◽

Common Source ◽

Theta Band ◽

Beta Band ◽

Band Power ◽

The Face ◽

Integrated Or ◽

Temporal Profiles ◽

Evoked Response Potentials ◽

The Brain

AbstractAsynchrony is a critical cue informing the brain whether sensory signals are caused by a common source and should be integrated or segregated. It is unclear how the brain binds audiotactile signals into behavioural benefits depending on their asynchrony. Participants actively responded (psychophysics) or passively attended (electroencephalogrpahy) to noise bursts, ‘taps-to-the-face’, and their audiotactile (AT) combinations at seven audiotactile asynchronies: 0, ±20, ±70, and ±500ms. Observers were faster at detecting AT than unisensory stimuli, maximally for synchronous stimulation and declining within a ≤70ms temporal integration window. We observed AT interactions for (1) near-synchronous stimuli within a ≤20ms temporal integration window for evoked response potentials (ERPs) at 110ms and ∼400ms, (2) specifically ±70ms asynchronies, across the P200 ERP and theta-band inter-trial coherence (ITC) and power at ∼200ms, with a frontocentral topography, and (3) beta-band power across several asynchronies. Our results suggest that early AT interactions for ERP and theta-band ITC and power mediate behavioural response facilitation within a ≤70ms temporal integration window, but beta-band power reflects AT interactions that are less relevant for behaviour. This diversity of temporal profiles and constraints demonstrates how audiotactile integration unfolds in a cascade of interactions to generate behavioural benefits.

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Frontal Oscillatory Dynamics Predict Feedback Learning and Action Adjustment

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn_a_00110 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 23 (12) ◽

pp. 4106-4121 ◽

Cited By ~ 103

Author(s):

Irene van de Vijver ◽

K. Richard Ridderinkhof ◽

Michael X Cohen

Keyword(s):

Negative Feedback ◽

Time Estimation ◽

Button Press ◽

Theta Band ◽

Beta Band ◽

Oscillatory Dynamics ◽

Band Power ◽

Feedback Learning ◽

Resolution Measure ◽

Band Activity

Frontal oscillatory dynamics in the theta (4–8 Hz) and beta (20–30 Hz) frequency bands have been implicated in cognitive control processes. Here we investigated the changes in coordinated activity within and between frontal brain areas during feedback-based response learning. In a time estimation task, participants learned to press a button after specific, randomly selected time intervals (300–2000 msec) using the feedback after each button press (correct, too fast, too slow). Consistent with previous findings, theta-band activity over medial frontal scalp sites (presumably reflecting medial frontal cortex activity) was stronger after negative feedback, whereas beta-band activity was stronger after positive feedback. Theta-band power predicted learning only after negative feedback, and beta-band power predicted learning after positive and negative feedback. Furthermore, negative feedback increased theta-band intersite phase synchrony (a millisecond resolution measure of functional connectivity) among right lateral prefrontal, medial frontal, and sensorimotor sites. These results demonstrate the importance of frontal theta- and beta-band oscillations and intersite communication in the realization of reinforcement learning.

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Subthalamic beta-targeted neurofeedback speeds up movement initiation but increases tremor in Parkinsonian patients

eLife ◽

10.7554/elife.60979 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Shenghong He ◽

Abteen Mostofi ◽

Emilie Syed ◽

Flavie Torrecillos ◽

Gerd Tinkhauser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reaction Times ◽

Gamma Activity ◽

Neurofeedback Training ◽

Theta Band ◽

Beta Band ◽

Movement Initiation ◽

Parkinsonian Tremor ◽

Frequency Interaction ◽

Motor Initiation ◽

Band Activity

Previous studies have explored neurofeedback training for Parkinsonian patients to suppress beta oscillations in the subthalamic nucleus (STN). However, its impacts on movements and Parkinsonian tremor are unclear. We developed a neurofeedback paradigm targeting STN beta bursts and investigated whether neurofeedback training could improve motor initiation in Parkinson’s disease compared to passive observation. Our task additionally allowed us to test which endogenous changes in oscillatory STN activities are associated with trial-to-trial motor performance. Neurofeedback training reduced beta synchrony and increased gamma activity within the STN, and reduced beta band coupling between the STN and motor cortex. These changes were accompanied by reduced reaction times in subsequently cued movements. However, in Parkinsonian patients with pre-existing symptoms of tremor, successful volitional beta suppression was associated with an amplification of tremor which correlated with theta band activity in STN local field potentials, suggesting an additional cross-frequency interaction between STN beta and theta activities.

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A Comparison of Traditional and Serious Game-Based Digital Markers of Cognition in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Healthy Controls

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-201300 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 79 (4) ◽

pp. 1747-1759

Author(s):

Paraskevi Iliadou ◽

Ioannis Paliokas ◽

Stelios Zygouris ◽

Eftychia Lazarou ◽

Konstantinos Votis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Serious Game ◽

Theta Band ◽

Band Power ◽

Wearable Eeg ◽

Global Cognition ◽

Alpha Beta ◽

Game Performance ◽

Theta Band Power

Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) has been used to assess brain activity while users are playing an immersive serious game. Objective: To assess differences in brain activation as measured with a non-intrusive wearable EEG device, differences in game performance and correlations between EEG power, game performance and global cognition, between cognitively impaired and non-impaired older adults, during the administration of a novel self-administered serious game-based test, the Virtual Supermarket Test (VST). Methods: 43 older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and 33 older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were recruited from day centers for cognitive disorders. Global cognition was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Brain activity was measured with a non-intrusive wearable EEG device in a resting state condition and while they were administered the VST. Results: During resting state condition, the MCI group showed increased alpha, beta, delta, and theta band power compared to the SCD group. During the administration of the VST, the MCI group showed increased beta and theta band power compared to the SCD group. Regarding game performance, alpha, beta, delta, and theta rhythms were positively correlated with average duration, while delta rhythm was positively correlated with mean errors. MoCA correlated with alpha, beta, delta, and theta rhythms and with average game duration and mean game errors indicating that elevated EEG rhythms in MCI may be associated with an overall cognitive decline. Conclusion: VST performance can be used as a digital biomarker. Cheap commercially available wearable EEG devices can be used for obtaining brain activity biomarkers.

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The cerebellar clock: predicting and timing somatosensory touch

10.1101/2020.10.01.321455 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lau M. Andersen ◽

Sarang S. Dalal

Keyword(s):

Human Brain ◽

Sensory Feedback ◽

Theta Band ◽

Beta Band ◽

Precise Timing ◽

Band Power ◽

Sensory Expectations ◽

Band Activity

0AbstractHumans are adept at predicting what will happen next and when precisely it will occur. An activity as everyday as walking at a steady pace through a busy city while talking to a friend can only happen as smoothly as it does because the human brain has predicted most of the sensory feedback it will receive. It is only when the sensory feedback does not match what was expected, say, a sudden slippery spot on the pavement, that one becomes aware of the sensory feedback. The cerebellum is known to be involved in these predictions, but not much is known about the precise timing of them due to the scarcity of time-sensitive cerebellar neuroimaging studies, such as ones conducted with magnetoencephalography.We here investigated the timing of sensory expectations as they are expressed in the cerebellum using magnetoencephalography. We did this by comparing the cerebellum’s response to somatosensory omissions from regular trains of stimulation to its response to omissions from irregular trains of stimulation. This revealed that omissions following regular trains of stimulation showed higher cerebellar power in the beta band than those following irregular trains of stimulation, precisely when the omitted stimulus should have appeared. We also found evidence of cerebellar theta band activity encoding the rhythm of new sequences of stimulationOur results furthermore strongly suggest that the putamen and the thalamus mirror the cerebellum in showing higher beta band power when omissions followed regular trains of stimulation compared to when they followed irregular trains of stimulation.We interpret this as the cerebellum functioning as a clock that precisely encodes and predicts upcoming stimulation, perhaps in tandem with the putamen and thalamus. Relative to less predictable stimuli, perfectly predictable stimuli induce greater cerebellar power. This implies that the cerebellum entrains to rhythmic stimuli for the purpose of catching any deviations from that rhythm.

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