Localizing movement-related primary sensorimotor cortices with multi-band EEG frequency changes and functional MRI.

Ching-Chang Kuo,Kyle K Morgan,Don M Tucker,Jasmine Song,Phan Luu,Mark Dow,Colin Davey,Allen D Malony,Kyle K Morgan,Phan Luu,Don M Tucker,Blake Johnson

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0112103

Ching-Chang Kuo, Kyle K Morgan + Show 10 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0112103

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Abstract

Electroencephalographic (EEG) oscillations in multiple frequency bands can be observed during functional activity of the cerebral cortex. An important question is whether activity of focal areas of cortex, such as during finger movements, is tracked by focal oscillatory EEG changes. Although a number of studies have compared EEG changes to functional MRI hemodynamic responses, we can find no previous research that relates the fMRI hemodynamic activity to localization of the multiple EEG frequency changes observed in motor tasks. In the present study, five participants performed similar thumb and finger movement tasks in parallel EEG and functional MRI studies. We examined changes in five frequency bands (from 5–120 Hz) and localized them using 256 dense-array EEG (dEEG) recordings and high-resolution individual head models. These localizations were compared with fMRI localizations in the same participants. Results showed that beta-band (14–30 Hz) desynchronizations (power decreases) were the most robust effects, appearing in all individuals, consistently localized to the hand region of the primary motor cortex, and consistently aligned with fMRI localizations.

Highlights

The synchronization and desynchronization of oscillatory electroencephalographic (EEG) activity is believed to reflect basic neurophysiological processes that are fundamental to information processing by the brain
The results showed that local field potentials in the gamma range were positively correlated with the BOLD response; neuronal action potentials were not significantly related to the BOLD response
Familiar movement-related potentials can be observed in the movement execution period, the negative going potential prior to the button press and positive peaks following the response [19]

Summary

Introduction

The synchronization and desynchronization of oscillatory electroencephalographic (EEG) activity is believed to reflect basic neurophysiological processes that are fundamental to information processing by the brain. Local field potentials recorded from intracranial electrodes over sensorimotor cortex revealed rhythmic neural activities that were interrupted by activating neurons involved in movement preparation and execution [8]. Using noninvasive EEG and MEG techniques, researchers have shown frequency specific amplitude (or spectral power) changes before and after movements. These changes involve decreases in amplitude, perhaps reflecting the interruption of ongoing oscillatory activity by functionally active neuronal populations, as shown by Murthy and Fetz [8], or increases relative to a specified baseline. Decreases are referred to as event-related desynchronization (ERD), and increases are referred to as event-related synchronization (ERS) [9]

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