Task-Based Functional Connectivity and Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent Activation During Within-Scanner Performance of Lumbopelvic Motor Tasks: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Max K Jordon,Sheri P Silfies,Paul F Beattie,Jill Campbell Stewart

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2022.816595

Abstract

There are a limited number of neuroimaging investigations into motor control of the lumbopelvic musculature. Most investigation examining motor control of the lumbopelvic musculature utilize transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and focus primarily on the motor cortex. This has resulted in a dearth of knowledge as it relates to how other regions of the brain activate during lumbopelvic movement. Additionally, task-based functional connectivity during lumbopelvic movements has not been well elucidated. Therefore, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine brain activation and ROI-to-ROI task-based functional connectivity in 19 healthy individuals (12 female, age 29.8 ± 4.5 years) during the performance of three lumbopelvic movements: modified bilateral bridge, left unilateral bridge, and right unilateral bridge. The whole brain analysis found robust, bilateral activation within the motor regions of the brain during the bilateral bridge task, and contralateral activation of the motor regions during unilateral bridging tasks. Furthermore, the ROI-to-ROI analysis demonstrated significant connectivity of a motor network that included the supplemental motor area, bilateral precentral gyrus, and bilateral cerebellum regardless of the motor task performed. These data suggest that while whole brain activation reveals unique patterns of activation across the three tasks, functional connectivity is very similar. As motor control of the lumbopelvic area is of high interest to those studying low back pain (LBP), this study can provide a comparison for future research into potential connectivity changes that occur in individuals with LBP.

Highlights

Neuroimaging investigations into motor control have typically focused on either upper extremity or distal lower extremity movements (Grefkes et al, 2008; Grooms et al, 2019; Vinehout et al, 2019; Criss et al, 2020)
While there is some evidence demonstrating that motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) increase during local muscle pain (Fadiga et al, 2004), several studies have shown that MEPs can either decrease (Valeriani et al, 1999; Farina et al, 2001; Martin et al, 2008), or stay the same (Romaniello et al, 2000)
Activation was present in both hemispheres during bilateral bridging task while activation was predominantly located in the contralateral cerebral hemisphere and the ipsilateral cerebellum during unilateral bridging tasks

Summary

Introduction

Neuroimaging investigations into motor control have typically focused on either upper extremity or distal lower extremity movements (Grefkes et al, 2008; Grooms et al, 2019; Vinehout et al, 2019; Criss et al, 2020). While there is some evidence demonstrating that motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) increase during local muscle pain (Fadiga et al, 2004), several studies have shown that MEPs can either decrease (Valeriani et al, 1999; Farina et al, 2001; Martin et al, 2008), or stay the same (Romaniello et al, 2000). This variability in findings may be due to the fact that activity within a single muscle can be redistributed in order to protect the body part that is in pain (Hodges and Tucker, 2011). Studies assessing motor control using TMS have only assessed the primary motor cortex and not other regions (e.g., those responsible for motor planning or proprioception) of the brain, such as premotor cortices, which might hold important insights into the motor control of the lumbopelvic region

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