EEG correlates of sensorimotor processing: independent components involved in sensory and motor processing

Andrew Melnik,W David Hairston,Peter König,Daniel P Ferris

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-04757-8

Abstract

Sensorimotor processing is a critical function of the human brain with multiple cortical areas specialised for sensory recognition or motor execution. Although there has been considerable research into sensorimotor control in humans, the steps between sensory recognition and motor execution are not fully understood. To provide insight into brain areas responsible for sensorimotor computation, we used complex categorization-response tasks (variations of a Stroop task requiring recognition, decision-making, and motor responses) to test the hypothesis that some functional modules are participating in both sensory as well as motor processing. We operationalize functional modules as independent components (ICs) yielded by an independent component analysis (ICA) of EEG data and measured event-related responses by means of inter-trial coherence (ITC). Our results consistently found ICs with event-related ITC responses related to both sensory stimulation and motor response onsets (on average 5.8 ICs per session). These findings reveal EEG correlates of tightly coupled sensorimotor processing in the human brain, and support frameworks like embodied cognition, common coding, and sensorimotor contingency that do not sequentially separate sensory and motor brain processes.

Highlights

In everyday life, humans respond to a variety of stimuli to produce a range of motor commands in diverse contexts
Each independent components (ICs) had sensory-related and motor-related inter-trial coherence (ITC) values, which served as scalar measures of sensory and motor event-related responses of an IC, respectively
Our study revealed EEG correlates of sensorimotor processing in the human brain

Summary

Introduction

Humans respond to a variety of stimuli to produce a range of motor commands in diverse contexts. Complex speeded-response tasks, which often take about 500 ms in response latency[1], provide an opportunity to trace activation of brain areas involved in sensorimotor processing using brain imaging techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) or magnetoencephalography (MEG). Sensorimotor contingency serves as the theoretical foundation of sensory substitution, when visual sensation is perceived through touch[20] or learning a new sense with a sensory augmentation device[21,22,23] All three of these different frameworks support the idea that sensorimotor processing can be a holistic process rather than a series of separate modules. The alternative frameworks propose that some functional modules will relate to both sensory stimulation and motor response These modules would likely participate for the whole sensorimotor process, from sensory recognition to motor response. We tested these competing hypotheses to provide insight into the theoretical constructs of sequential processing and the alternative frameworks (embodied cognition, common coding, and sensorimotor contingency)

Methods

Results

Conclusion