Abstract
Although motor tasks at most times do not require much attention, there are findings that attention can alter neuronal activity not only in higher motor areas but also within the primary sensorimotor cortex. However, these findings are equivocal as attention effects were investigated only in either the dominant or the nondominant hand; attention was operationalized either as concentration (i.e., attention directed to motor task) or as distraction (i.e., attention directed away from motor task), the complexity of motor tasks varied and almost no left-handers were studied. Therefore, in this study, both right- and left-handers were investigated with an externally paced button press task in which subjects typed with the index finger of the dominant, nondominant, or both hands. We introduced four different attention levels: attention-modulation-free, distraction (counting backward), concentration on the moving finger, and divided concentration during bimanual movement. We found that distraction reduced neuronal activity in both contra- and ipsilateral primary sensorimotor cortex when the nondominant hand was tapping in both handedness groups. At the same time, distraction activated the dorsal frontoparietal attention network and deactivated the ventral default network. We conclude that difficulty and training status of both the motor and cognitive task, as well as usage of the dominant versus the nondominant hand, are crucial for the presence and magnitude of attention effects on sensorimotor cortex activity. In the case of a very simple button press task, attention modulation is seen for the nondominant hand under distraction and in both handedness groups.
Highlights
Our motor system operates rather independently without the need to pay attention to the executed movements and daily life illustrates that within a multitasking situation, a trained motor task can be performed without devoting attention to it
We found that distraction reduced neuronal activity in both contra- and ipsilateral primary sensorimotor cortex when the nondominant hand was tapping in both handedness groups
For the nondominant hand, there was no influence of attention modulation on task performance of tapping frequency or the standard deviation of the tapping in relation to the sound
Summary
Our motor system operates rather independently without the need to pay attention to the executed movements and daily life illustrates that within a multitasking situation, a trained motor task can be performed without devoting attention to it (e.g., driving a car while talking). With an overlearned motor task, giving attention to the task can even disturb its execution (e.g., Baumeister 1984). After learning has taken place, explicit knowledge about what our motor system is doing diminishes. When learning to type with 10 fingers, at the beginning one needs explicit knowledge of the exact keyboard position of each letter. Regarding the primary motor cortex, it was observed that during learning of a new task attention to an external focus (button to be pressed) in comparison with an internal focus (moving finger) is associated with higher activity in this brain region (Zentgraf et al 2009); this finding is paralleled by better task performance (Wulf and Prinz 2001; Wulf et al 2010)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
