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Brain Plasticity and Motor Control—Series II

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A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Sensory and Motor Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2020) | Viewed by 45677

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Prof. Dr. Bernadette Murphy

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Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON L1H 7K4, Canada
Interests: sensorimotor integration; neural adaptation and learning; neurophysiology of musculoskeletal treatments; chronic pain processing; neural effects of exercise
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Dear Colleagues,

Brain plasticity is critical for motor control and learning. Adaptive or beneficial plasticity leads to improved motor control and performance. In contrast, maladaptive plasticity may actually lead to impaired motor control and decreased motor performance.

Intrinsic factors such as cortical dominance or genetics may affect the inherent capacity for plasticity during acquisition of new motor skills. Extrinsic factors such as altered sensory input (for example due to pain, deafferentation and dysafferentation) have the capacity to impact brain plasticity in either adaptive ways that lead to enhanced motor control and learning, or maladaptive ways that impair motor control and task performance. In order to understand how any given factor impacts brain plasticity and motor control, it is important to include experimental measures of brain plasticity (e.g., electroencephalography, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and functional magnetic resonance imaging) as well as performance measures of motor control in study design. A better understanding of brain plasticity and motor control can help to guide rehabilitation strategies as well as help prevent situations which lead to maladaptive brain plasticity.

This Special Issue intends to collect articles that explore factors that impact the capacity for brain plasticity, both adaptive and maladaptive. These factors may be intrinsic factors, or extrinsic. Both experimental studies as well as clinical studies are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Bernadette Murphy
Guest Editor

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Keywords

brain
neuroplasticity
motor control
sensorimotor integration
laterality

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1658 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating Parietal and Premotor Influence on Motor Cortical Excitability Associated with Visuomotor Associative Plasticity

by Paul J. Wolfe, Lynea B. Kaethler and W. Richard Staines

Brain Sci. 2021, 11(4), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11040452 - 2 Apr 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1868

Abstract

The brain changes in response to sensory signals it is exposed to. It has been shown that long term potentiation-like neuroplasticity can be experimentally induced via visual paired-associative stimulation (V-PAS). V-PAS combines afferent visual stimuli with a transcranial magnetic stimulation pulse to induce plasticity. Preparation of a reaching movement to generate activity in superior parietal occipital cortex (SPOC) was used in this study as an additional afferent contributor to modulate the resultant plasticity. We hypothesized that V-PAS with a reaching movement would induce greater cortical excitability than V-PAS alone and would exhibit facilitated SPOC to M1 projections. All four experiments enrolled groups of 10 participants to complete variations of V-PAS in a repeated measures design. SPOC to M1 projections facilitated motor cortex excitability following V-PAS regardless of intervention received. We did not observe evidence indicating extra afferent information provided an additive effect to participants. Investigation of PMd to M1 projections confirmed disinhibition and suggested interneuronal populations within M1 may be mechanistically involved. Future research should look to rule out the existence of an upper limit for effective afference during V-PAS and investigate the average influence of V-PAS on cortical excitability in the larger population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Plasticity and Motor Control—Series II)

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15 pages, 937 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Somatosensory Integration and Masking of Complex Tactile Information: Peripheral and Cortical Contributions

by Steven R. Passmore, Niyousha Mortaza, Cheryl M. Glazebrook, Bernadette Murphy and Timothy D. Lee

Brain Sci. 2020, 10(12), 954; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10120954 - 9 Dec 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1903

Abstract

Nerve paresthesia is a sensory impairment experienced in clinical conditions such as diabetes. Paresthesia may “mask” or “compete” with meaningful tactile information in the patient’s sensory environment. The two objectives of the present study were: (1) to determine if radiating paresthesia produces a peripheral mask, a central mask, or a combination; (2) to determine if a response competition experimental design reveals changes in somatosensory integration similar to a masking design. Experiment 1 assessed the degree of masking caused by induced radiating ulnar nerve paresthesia (a concurrent non-target stimulus) on a vibrotactile Morse code letter acquisition task using both behavioral and neurophysiological measures. Experiment 2 used a response competition design by moving the radiating paresthesia to the median nerve. This move shifted the concurrent non-target stimulus to a location spatially removed from the target stimuli. The task, behavioral and neurophysiological measures remained consistent. The induced paresthesia impacted letter acquisition differentially depending on the relative location of meaningful and non-meaningful stimulation. Paresthesia acted as a peripheral mask when presented to overlapping anatomical stimulation areas, and a central mask when presented at separate anatomical areas. These findings are discussed as they relate to masking, subcortical, and centripetal gating. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Plasticity and Motor Control—Series II)

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11 pages, 1011 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acute Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Somatosensory-Evoked Potentials in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

by Imran Amjad, Imran Khan Niazi, Hamza Ghazanfar Toor, Rasmus Bach Nedergaard, Muhammad Shafique, Kelly Holt, Heidi Haavik and Touqeer Ahmed

Brain Sci. 2020, 10(10), 663; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10100663 - 23 Sep 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4240

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is becoming a serious problem for developing countries as the lifespan of populations increases. Exercise is known to be clinically beneficial for MCI patients. Somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for this population. The objective of this study was to determine the acute effects of aerobic exercise on SEPs in patients with MCI, to test whether SEPs are sensitive enough to detect improvements in early somatosensory processing. The study had a randomized parallel-group design and included 28 MCI subjects (14 in the experimental group and 14 in the control group). The experimental intervention was 20 min of aerobic exercise using a stationary bicycle. The control intervention involved 20 min of movements and stretches. Subjects were assessed before and after a single intervention session. SEPs were recorded by stimulating the median nerve of the dominant hand. Analysis of normalized SEP peak amplitudes showed that a single session of aerobic activity significantly reduced the N30 peak at the F3 channel (p = 0.03). There were no significant effects of aerobic exercise on SEP peak latencies. The results indicate that 20 min of aerobic exercise has a significant effect on the N30 SEP peak amplitude in MCI patients. The results suggest that aerobic exercise is likely to provide sensory-enriching inputs that enhance sensorimotor integration. Future studies should assess the effects of aerobic exercise on somatosensory processing in progressive stages of Alzheimer’s disease, longer exercise durations, and multiple exercise sessions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Plasticity and Motor Control—Series II)

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18 pages, 2472 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functional Connectivity Analysis on Resting-State Electroencephalography Signals Following Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation in Stroke Patients

by Toby Steven Waterstone, Imran Khan Niazi, Muhammad Samran Navid, Imran Amjad, Muhammad Shafique, Kelly Holt, Heidi Haavik and Afshin Samani

Brain Sci. 2020, 10(9), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10090644 - 17 Sep 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5930

Abstract

Stroke impairments often present as cognitive and motor deficits, leading to a decline in quality of life. Recovery strategy and mechanisms, such as neuroplasticity, are important factors, as these can help improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation. The present study investigated chiropractic spinal manipulation (SM) and its effects on resting-state functional connectivity in 24 subacute to chronic stroke patients monitored by electroencephalography (EEG). Functional connectivity of both linear and non-linear coupling was estimated by coherence and phase lag index (PLI), respectively. Non-parametric cluster-based permutation tests were used to assess the statistical significance of the changes in functional connectivity following SM. Results showed a significant increase in functional connectivity from the PLI metric in the alpha band within the default mode network (DMN). The functional connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex and parahippocampal regions increased following SM, t (23) = 10.45, p = 0.005. No significant changes occurred following the sham control procedure. These findings suggest that SM may alter functional connectivity in the brain of stroke patients and highlights the potential of EEG for monitoring neuroplastic changes following SM. Furthermore, the altered connectivity was observed between areas which may be affected by factors such as decreased pain perception, episodic memory, navigation, and space representation in the brain. However, these factors were not directly monitored in this study. Therefore, further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and clinical significance of the observed changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Plasticity and Motor Control—Series II)

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16 pages, 2847 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reduced Interhemispheric Coherence after Cerebellar Vermis Output Perturbation

by Elena Laura Georgescu Margarint, Ioana Antoaneta Georgescu, Carmen-Denise-Mihaela Zahiu, Alexandru Răzvan Șteopoaie, Stefan-Alexandru Tirlea, Daniela Popa, Ana-Maria Zagrean and Leon Zagrean

Brain Sci. 2020, 10(9), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10090621 - 8 Sep 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2831

Abstract

Motor coordination and motor learning are well-known roles of the cerebellum. Recent evidence also supports the contribution of the cerebellum to the oscillatory activity of brain networks involved in a wide range of disorders. Kainate, a potent analog of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, can be used to induce dystonia, a neurological movement disorder syndrome consisting of sustained or repetitive involuntary muscle contractions, when applied on the surface of the cerebellum. This research aims to study the interhemispheric cortical communication between the primary motor cortices after repeated kainate application on cerebellar vermis for five consecutive days, in mice. We recorded left and right primary motor cortices electrocorticograms and neck muscle electromyograms, and quantified the motor behavior abnormalities. The results indicated a reduced coherence between left and right motor cortices in low-frequency bands. In addition, we observed a phenomenon of long-lasting adaptation with a modification of the baseline interhemispheric coherence. Our research provides evidence that the cerebellum can control the flow of information along the cerebello-thalamo-cortical neural pathways and can influence interhemispheric communication. This phenomenon could function as a compensatory mechanism for impaired regional networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Plasticity and Motor Control—Series II)

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14 pages, 2520 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Proximal Upper Limb Sensorimotor Integration in Response to Novel Motor Skill Acquisition

by Sinead O’Brien, Danielle Andrew, Mahboobeh Zabihhosseinian, Paul Yielder and Bernadette Murphy

Brain Sci. 2020, 10(9), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10090581 - 22 Aug 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2601

Abstract

Previous studies have shown significant changes in cortical and subcortical evoked potential activity levels in response to motor training with the distal upper-limb muscles. However, no studies to date have assessed the neurological processing changes in somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) associated with motor training whole-arm movements utilizing proximal upper-limb muscles. The proximal upper-limb muscles are a common source of work-related injuries, due to repetitive glenohumeral movements. Measuring neurophysiological changes following performance of a proximal motor task provide insight into potential neurophysiological changes associated with occupational postures and movements involving proximal upper limb muscles. This study sought to assess the impact of a novel motor skill acquisition task on neural processing of the proximal upper-limb muscle groups, through the measurement of short-latency median nerve SEPs. One group of 12 participants completed a novel motor training task, consisting of tracing a sinusoidal waveform varying in amplitude and frequency. Baseline SEP measurements were recorded from each participant, followed by a mental recitation control task. Pre-test SEP measurements were then recorded, followed by the motor training task, and post-test SEP recordings. The participants completed the tracing with their right thumb, using glenohumeral rotation only to move their hand. Significant improvements in task accuracy were demonstrated, indicating that motor acquisition had occurred. Significant changes were also seen in the N11, N13, N20, N24, P25, and the N30 SEP peaks were seen following the motor training task. Conclusion: Early SEPs appear to be a sensitive measure of changes in sensorimotor integration in response to novel motor skill acquisition within the proximal upper-limb muscles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Plasticity and Motor Control—Series II)

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12 pages, 2209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Importance of Maximal Strength and Muscle-Tendon Mechanics for Improving Force Steadiness in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease

by Rowan R. Smart, Cydney M. Richardson, Daryl J. Wile, Brian H. Dalton and Jennifer M. Jakobi

Brain Sci. 2020, 10(8), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10080471 - 22 Jul 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2736

Abstract

Although plantar flexion force steadiness (FS) is reduced in persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD), the underlying causes are unknown. The aim of this exploratory design study was to ascertain the influence of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force and gastrocnemius-Achilles muscle-tendon unit behaviour on FS in persons with PD. Nine persons with PD and nine age- and sex-matched non-PD controls (~70 years, 6 females per group) performed plantar flexion MVCs and sub-maximal tracking tasks at 5, 10, 25, 50 and 75% MVC. Achilles tendon elongation and medial gastrocnemius fascicle lengths were recorded via ultrasound during contraction. FS was quantified using the coefficient of variation (CV) of force. Contributions of MVC and tendon mechanics to FS were determined using multiple regression analyses. Persons with PD were 35% weaker during MVC (p = 0.04) and had 97% greater CV (p = 0.01) with 47% less fascicle shortening (p = 0.004) and 38% less tendon elongation (p = 0.002) than controls. Reduced strength was a direct contributor to lower FS in PD (ß = 0.631), and an indirect factor through limiting optimal muscle-tendon unit interaction. Interestingly, our findings indicate an uncoupling between fascicle shortening and tendon elongation in persons with PD. To better understand limitations in FS and muscle-tendon unit behavior, it is imperative to identify the origins of MVC decrements in persons with PD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Plasticity and Motor Control—Series II)

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21 pages, 3177 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustained Isometric Wrist Flexion and Extension Maximal Voluntary Contractions on Corticospinal Excitability to Forearm Muscles during Low-Intensity Hand-Gripping

by Davis A. Forman, Garrick N. Forman, Bernadette A. Murphy and Michael W. R. Holmes

Brain Sci. 2020, 10(7), 445; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10070445 - 13 Jul 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4450

Abstract

The wrist extensors demonstrate an earlier fatigue onset than the wrist flexors. However, it is currently unclear whether fatigue induces unique changes in muscle activity or corticospinal excitability between these muscle groups. The purpose of this study was to examine how sustained isometric wrist extension/flexion maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) influence muscle activity and corticospinal excitability of the forearm. Corticospinal excitability to three wrist flexors and three wrist extensors were measured using motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited via transcranial magnetic stimulation. Responses were elicited while participants exerted 10% of their maximal handgrip force, before and after a sustained wrist flexion or extension MVC (performed on separate sessions). Post-fatigue measures were collected up to 10-min post-fatigue. Immediately post-fatigue, extensor muscle activity was significantly greater following the wrist flexion fatigue session, although corticospinal excitability (normalized to muscle activity) was greater on the wrist extension day. Responses were largely unchanged in the wrist flexors. However, for the flexor carpi ulnaris, normalized MEP amplitudes were significantly larger following wrist extension fatigue. These findings demonstrate that sustained isometric flexion/extension MVCs result in a complex reorganization of forearm muscle recruitment strategies during hand-gripping. Based on these findings, previously observed corticospinal behaviour following fatigue may not apply when the fatiguing task and measurement task are different. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Plasticity and Motor Control—Series II)

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14 pages, 2672 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differential Changes in Early Somatosensory Evoked Potentials between the Dominant and Non-Dominant Hand, Following a Novel Motor Tracing Task

by Mahboobeh Zabihhosseinian, Ryan Gilley, Danielle Andrew, Bernadette Murphy and Paul Yielder

Brain Sci. 2020, 10(5), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10050290 - 14 May 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3132

Abstract

During training in a novel dynamic environment, the non-dominant upper limb favors feedback control, whereas the dominant limb favors feedforward mechanisms. Early somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) offer a means to explore differences in cortical regions involved in sensorimotor integration (SMI). This study sought to compare differences in SMI between the right (Dom) and left (Non-Dom) hand in healthy right-handed participants. SEPs were recorded in response to median nerve stimulation, at baseline and post, a motor skill acquisition-tracing task. One group (n = 12) trained with their Dom hand and the other group (n = 12), with their Non-Dom hand. The Non-Dom hand was significantly more accurate at baseline (p < 0.0001) and both groups improved with time (p < 0.0001), for task accuracy, with no significant interaction effect between groups for both post-acquisition and retention. There were significant group interactions for the N24 (p < 0.001) and the N30 (p < 0.0001) SEP peaks. Post motor acquisition, the Dom hand had a 28.9% decrease in the N24 and a 23.8% increase in the N30, with opposite directional changes for the Non-Dom hand; 22.04% increase in N24 and 24% decrease in the N30. These SEP changes reveal differences in early SMI between Dom and Non-Dom hands in response to motor acquisition, providing objective, temporally sensitive measures of differences in neural mechanisms between the limbs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Plasticity and Motor Control—Series II)

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19 pages, 3114 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Effects of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation on EEG in Stroke Patients

by Muhammad Samran Navid, Imran Khan Niazi, Dina Lelic, Rasmus Bach Nedergaard, Kelly Holt, Imran Amjad, Asbjørn Mohr Drewes and Heidi Haavik

Brain Sci. 2020, 10(5), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10050253 - 27 Apr 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 8486

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of chiropractic spinal manipulation on the early somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) recorded from chronic stroke patients. Methods: Seventeen male patients (53 ± 12 years old) participated in this randomized cross-over study. The patients received chiropractic spinal manipulation and control intervention, in random order, separated by at least 24 hours. EEG was recorded before and after each intervention during rest and stimulation of the non-paretic median nerve. For resting-state EEG, the delta-alpha ratio, brain-symmetry index, and power-spectra were calculated. For SEPs, the amplitudes and latencies of N20 and N30 peaks were assessed. Source localization was performed on the power-spectra of resting-state EEG and the N30 SEP peak. Results: Following spinal manipulation, the N30 amplitude increased by 39%, which was a significant increase compared to the control intervention (p < 0.01). The latency and changes to the strength of the cortical sources underlying the N30 peak were not significant. The N20 peak, the resting-state power-spectra, delta-alpha ratio, brain-symmetry index, and resting-state source localization showed no significant changes after either intervention. Conclusion: A single session of chiropractic spinal manipulation increased the amplitude of the N30 SEP peak in a group of chronic stroke patients, which may reflect changes to early sensorimotor function. More research is required to investigate the long-term effects of chiropractic spinal manipulation, to better understand what impact it may have on the neurological function of stroke survivors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Plasticity and Motor Control—Series II)

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15 pages, 1003 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adolescent Awkwardness: Alterations in Temporal Control Characteristics of Posture with Maturation and the Relation to Movement Exploration

by Felix Wachholz, Federico Tiribello, Maurice Mohr, Steven van Andel and Peter Federolf

Brain Sci. 2020, 10(4), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10040216 - 5 Apr 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6283

Abstract

A phenomenon called adolescent awkwardness is believed to alter motor control, but underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Since adolescents undergo neurological and anthropometrical changes during this developmental phase, we hypothesized that adolescents control their movements less tightly and use a different coordinative structure compared to adults. Moreover, we tested if emerging differences were driven by body height alterations between age groups. Using 39 reflective markers, postural movements during tandem stance with eyes open and eyes closed of 12 adolescents (height 168.1 ± 8.8 cm) and 14 adults were measured, in which 9 adults were smaller or equal than 180 cm (177.9 ± 3.0 cm) and 5 taller or equal than 190 cm (192.0 ± 2.5 cm). A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to extract the first nine principal movement components (PM_k). The contribution of each PM_k to the overall balancing movement was determined according to their relative variance share (rVAR_k) and tightness of motor control was examined using the number of times that the acceleration of each PM_k changed direction (N_k). Results in rVAR_k did not show significant differences in coordinative structure between adolescents and adults, but N_k revealed that adolescents seem to control their movements less tightly in higher-order PM_k, arguably due to slower processing times and missing automatization of postural control or potential increases in exploration. Body height was found to not cause motor control differences between age groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Plasticity and Motor Control—Series II)

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