Cortical facilitation of tactile afferents during the preparation of a body weight transfer when standing on a biomimetic surface
Self-generated movement shapes tactile perception, but few studies have investigated the brain mechanisms involved in the processing of the mechanical signals related to the static and transient skin deformations generated by forces and pressures exerted between the foot skin and the standing surfac...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neurology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1175667/full |
| _version_ | 1827921944197988352 |
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| author | Chloé Sutter Alix Moinon Livia Felicetti Livia Felicetti Francesco Massi Jean Blouin Laurence Mouchnino Laurence Mouchnino |
| author_facet | Chloé Sutter Alix Moinon Livia Felicetti Livia Felicetti Francesco Massi Jean Blouin Laurence Mouchnino Laurence Mouchnino |
| author_sort | Chloé Sutter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Self-generated movement shapes tactile perception, but few studies have investigated the brain mechanisms involved in the processing of the mechanical signals related to the static and transient skin deformations generated by forces and pressures exerted between the foot skin and the standing surface. We recently found that standing on a biomimetic surface (i.e., inspired by the characteristics of mechanoreceptors and skin dermatoglyphics), that magnified skin–surface interaction, increased the sensory flow to the somatosensory cortex and improved balance control compared to standing on control (e.g., smooth) surfaces. In this study, we tested whether the well-known sensory suppression that occurs during movements is alleviated when the tactile afferent signal becomes relevant with the use of a biomimetic surface. Eyes-closed participants (n = 25) self-stimulated their foot cutaneous receptors by shifting their body weight toward one of their legs while standing on either a biomimetic or a control (smooth) surface. In a control task, similar forces were exerted on the surfaces (i.e., similar skin–surface interaction) by passive translations of the surfaces. Sensory gating was assessed by measuring the amplitude of the somatosensory-evoked potential over the vertex (SEP, recorded by EEG). Significantly larger and shorter SEPs were found when participants stood on the biomimetic surface. This was observed whether the forces exerted on the surface were self-generated or passively generated. Contrary to our prediction, we found that the sensory attenuation related to the self-generated movement did not significantly differ between the biomimetic and control surfaces. However, we observed an increase in gamma activity (30–50 Hz) over centroparietal regions during the preparation phase of the weight shift only when participants stood on the biomimetic surface. This result might suggest that gamma-band oscillations play an important functional role in processing behaviorally relevant stimuli during the early stages of body weight transfer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:34:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-23c19df5c267489a8c206eb9ea2154cf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-2295 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:34:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neurology |
| spelling | doaj.art-23c19df5c267489a8c206eb9ea2154cf2023-06-19T06:53:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952023-06-011410.3389/fneur.2023.11756671175667Cortical facilitation of tactile afferents during the preparation of a body weight transfer when standing on a biomimetic surfaceChloé Sutter0Alix Moinon1Livia Felicetti2Livia Felicetti3Francesco Massi4Jean Blouin5Laurence Mouchnino6Laurence Mouchnino7Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, FR 3C, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, FranceLaboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, FR 3C, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, FranceDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyLAMCOS, INSA Lyon, CNRS, UMR5259, Université Lyon, Villeurbanne, FranceDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyLaboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, FR 3C, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, FranceLaboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, FR 3C, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, FranceInstitut Universitaire de France, Paris, FranceSelf-generated movement shapes tactile perception, but few studies have investigated the brain mechanisms involved in the processing of the mechanical signals related to the static and transient skin deformations generated by forces and pressures exerted between the foot skin and the standing surface. We recently found that standing on a biomimetic surface (i.e., inspired by the characteristics of mechanoreceptors and skin dermatoglyphics), that magnified skin–surface interaction, increased the sensory flow to the somatosensory cortex and improved balance control compared to standing on control (e.g., smooth) surfaces. In this study, we tested whether the well-known sensory suppression that occurs during movements is alleviated when the tactile afferent signal becomes relevant with the use of a biomimetic surface. Eyes-closed participants (n = 25) self-stimulated their foot cutaneous receptors by shifting their body weight toward one of their legs while standing on either a biomimetic or a control (smooth) surface. In a control task, similar forces were exerted on the surfaces (i.e., similar skin–surface interaction) by passive translations of the surfaces. Sensory gating was assessed by measuring the amplitude of the somatosensory-evoked potential over the vertex (SEP, recorded by EEG). Significantly larger and shorter SEPs were found when participants stood on the biomimetic surface. This was observed whether the forces exerted on the surface were self-generated or passively generated. Contrary to our prediction, we found that the sensory attenuation related to the self-generated movement did not significantly differ between the biomimetic and control surfaces. However, we observed an increase in gamma activity (30–50 Hz) over centroparietal regions during the preparation phase of the weight shift only when participants stood on the biomimetic surface. This result might suggest that gamma-band oscillations play an important functional role in processing behaviorally relevant stimuli during the early stages of body weight transfer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1175667/fullplantar sole afferentsvoluntary movementsensory gatingbiomimetic surfacebalanceEEG |
| spellingShingle | Chloé Sutter Alix Moinon Livia Felicetti Livia Felicetti Francesco Massi Jean Blouin Laurence Mouchnino Laurence Mouchnino Cortical facilitation of tactile afferents during the preparation of a body weight transfer when standing on a biomimetic surface Frontiers in Neurology plantar sole afferents voluntary movement sensory gating biomimetic surface balance EEG |
| title | Cortical facilitation of tactile afferents during the preparation of a body weight transfer when standing on a biomimetic surface |
| title_full | Cortical facilitation of tactile afferents during the preparation of a body weight transfer when standing on a biomimetic surface |
| title_fullStr | Cortical facilitation of tactile afferents during the preparation of a body weight transfer when standing on a biomimetic surface |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cortical facilitation of tactile afferents during the preparation of a body weight transfer when standing on a biomimetic surface |
| title_short | Cortical facilitation of tactile afferents during the preparation of a body weight transfer when standing on a biomimetic surface |
| title_sort | cortical facilitation of tactile afferents during the preparation of a body weight transfer when standing on a biomimetic surface |
| topic | plantar sole afferents voluntary movement sensory gating biomimetic surface balance EEG |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1175667/full |
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