Abstract
The mechanism underlying brain region organization for motor control in humans remains poorly understood. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, right-handed volunteers were tasked to maintain unilateral foot movements on the right and left sides as consistently as possible. We aimed to identify the similarities and differences between brain motor networks of the two conditions. We recruited 18 right-handed healthy volunteers aged 25 ± 2.3 years and used a whole-body 3T system for magnetic resonance (MR) scanning. Image analysis was performed using SPM8, Conn toolbox and Brain Connectivity Toolbox. We determined a craniocaudally distributed, mirror-symmetrical modular structure. The functional connectivity between homotopic brain areas was generally stronger than the intrahemispheric connections, and such strong connectivity led to the abovementioned modular structure. Our findings indicated that the interhemispheric functional interaction between homotopic brain areas is more intensive than the interaction along the conventional top–down and bottom–up pathways within the brain during unilateral limb movement. The detected strong interhemispheric horizontal functional interaction is an important aspect of motor control but often neglected or underestimated. The strong interhemispheric connectivity may explain the physiological phenomena and effects of promising therapeutic approaches. Further accurate and effective therapeutic methods may be developed on the basis of our findings.
Highlights
Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have detected several brain regions activated during movement
Studies on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have explored the valuable features of brain motor networks, including the specific somatotopy of the functional connections among the primary motor regions during rest
A screening form that included a list of conditions that could endanger a subject’s safety during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning was signed by each subject
Summary
Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have detected several brain regions activated during movement. These regions include the primary motor cortex (M1), supplementary motor area (SMA), dorsal and ventral premotor cortex (PMd and PMv), cingulate motor area (CMA), superior frontal gyrus (SFG), primary and secondary somatosensory areas (S1 and S2, respectively), superior parietal lobule (SPL), inferior parietal cortex (IPC), putamen, insula, thalamus and the cerebellum (Hotz-Boendermaker et al, 2008; Newton et al, 2008; Francis et al, 2009; Trinastic et al, 2010). A brain motor network constructed from resting-state fMRI data may not effectively represent the mechanism behind brain region organization during motor execution
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