Abstract
Reach&grasp requires highly coordinated activation of different brain areas. We investigated whether reach&grasp kinematics is associated to EEG-based networks changes. We enrolled 10 healthy subjects. We analyzed the reach&grasp kinematics of 15 reach&grasp movements performed with each upper limb. Simultaneously, we obtained a 64-channel EEG, synchronized with the reach&grasp movement time points. We elaborated EEG signals with EEGLAB 12 in order to obtain event related synchronization/desynchronization (ERS/ERD) and lagged linear coherence between Brodmann areas. Finally, we evaluated network topology via sLORETA software, measuring network local and global efficiency (clustering and path length) and the overall balance (small-worldness). We observed a widespread ERD in α and β bands during reach&grasp, especially in the centro-parietal regions of the hemisphere contralateral to the movement. Regarding functional connectivity, we observed an α lagged linear coherence reduction among Brodmann areas contralateral to the arm involved in the reach&grasp movement. Interestingly, left arm movement determined widespread changes of α lagged linear coherence, specifically among right occipital regions, insular cortex and somatosensory cortex, while the right arm movement exerted a restricted contralateral sensory-motor cortex modulation. Finally, no change between rest and movement was found for clustering, path length and small-worldness. Through a synchronized acquisition, we explored the cortical correlates of the reach&grasp movement. Despite EEG perturbations, suggesting that the non-dominant reach&grasp network has a complex architecture probably linked to the necessity of a higher visual control, the pivotal topological measures of network local and global efficiency remained unaffected.
Highlights
Reach&grasp requires highly coordinated activation of different brain areas
Within the framework of an integrated method able to simultaneously measure brain connectivity and kinematics of the reach&grasp movements, we described the cortical function in terms of functional connectivity (FC) during the execution of this motor task in healthy subjects
In θ band we observed a different behaviour between the right and left movements, being θ activity bilaterally desynchronized on the centro-parietal electrodes during the left movement while during the right movement ERD was only observed on the contralateral centro-parietal electrodes
Summary
Reach&grasp requires highly coordinated activation of different brain areas. We investigated whether reach&grasp kinematics is associated to EEG-based networks changes. Brain plasticity can promote or hinder motor recovery[8,9] In this framework, an integrated method able to simultaneously measure brain connectivity and kinematics of a finalistic and spontaneous movement as reach&grasp, could possibly allow to evaluate the upper limb kinematic features and pathophysiological mechanisms during the recovery process. An integrated method able to simultaneously measure brain connectivity and kinematics of the reach&grasp movement is not yet available for humans. Our working hypothesis is that the reach&grasp kinematics is associated to functional connectivity changes specific for the different EEG frequency bands in healthy subjects. We hypothesize that the reach&grasp related FC changes do not alter the cortex small-world architecture, in order to maintain the network efficiency and to satisfy its parallel and integrated needs of local and global processing
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