Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a ubiquitous inhibitory neurotransmitter critical to the control of movement both cortically and subcortically. Modulation of GABA can alter the characteristic rest as well as movement-related oscillatory activity in the alpha (8–12 Hz), beta (13–30 Hz, and gamma (60–90 Hz) frequencies, but the specific mechanisms by which GABAergic modulation can modify these well-described changes remains unclear. Through pharmacologic GABAergic modulation and evaluation across the age spectrum, the contributions of GABA to these characteristic oscillatory activities are beginning to be understood. Here, we review how baseline GABA signaling plays a key role in motor networks and in cortical oscillations detected by scalp electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography. We also discuss the data showing specific alterations to baseline movement related oscillatory changes from pharmacologic intervention on GABAergic tone as well as with healthy aging. These data provide greater insight into the physiology of movement and may help improve future development of novel therapeutics for patients who suffer from movement disorders.
Highlights
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), is a critically important inhibitory neurotransmitter within the central nervous system shown to impact cortical electrographic activity [1]
GABA levels measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the sensorimotor cortex do positively correlate with movement-related gamma synchronization (MRGS) peak frequency, though no correlation is seen with power [3]
As there is a significant lack of reported findings related to GABAergic modulation on alpha-frequency event-related desynchronizations (ERD) and MRGS, these perceived similarities may only exist for beta-frequency movement-related oscillatory changes
Summary
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), is a critically important inhibitory neurotransmitter within the central nervous system shown to impact cortical electrographic activity [1]. 1.2 BASELINE MOVEMENT-RELATED OSCILLATORY CHANGES ERD is characterized by a decrease in the power of alpha (8– 12 Hz) and beta (13–30 Hz) frequencies in the primary motor cortex prior to and during movement [32]. This decrease in power can be detected up to two seconds before the initiation of movement and persists through the movement [11]. Beta-ERS has been suggested to represent an inhibition of the motor cortex [46] or somatosensory reafference [47] for which there is debate as to the importance of GABAergic mediation [1, 3, 7]
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