Investigating Cerebellar Modulation of Premovement Beta-Band Activity during Motor Adaptation

Enhancing cerebellar activity influences motor cortical activity and contributes to motor adaptation, though it is unclear which neurophysiological mechanisms contributing to adaptation are influenced by the cerebellum. Pre-movement beta event-related desynchronization (β-ERD), which reflects a rele...

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Main Authors: Lynea B. Kaethler, Katlyn E. Brown, Sean K. Meehan, W. Richard Staines
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-10-01
Series:Brain Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/11/1523
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author Lynea B. Kaethler
Katlyn E. Brown
Sean K. Meehan
W. Richard Staines
author_facet Lynea B. Kaethler
Katlyn E. Brown
Sean K. Meehan
W. Richard Staines
author_sort Lynea B. Kaethler
collection DOAJ
description Enhancing cerebellar activity influences motor cortical activity and contributes to motor adaptation, though it is unclear which neurophysiological mechanisms contributing to adaptation are influenced by the cerebellum. Pre-movement beta event-related desynchronization (β-ERD), which reflects a release of inhibitory control in the premotor cortex during movement planning, is one mechanism that may be modulated by the cerebellum through cerebellar-premotor connections. We hypothesized that enhancing cerebellar activity with intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) would improve adaptation rates and increase β-ERD during motor adaptation. Thirty-four participants were randomly assigned to an active (A-iTBS) or sham cerebellar iTBS (S-iTBS) group. Participants performed a visuomotor task, using a joystick to move a cursor to targets, prior to receiving A-iTBS or S-iTBS, following which they completed training with a 45° rotation to the cursor movement. Behavioural adaptation was assessed using the angular error of the cursor path relative to the ideal trajectory. The results showed a greater adaptation rate following A-iTBS and an increase in β-ERD, specific to the high β range (20–30 Hz) during motor planning, compared to S-iTBS, indicative of cerebellar modulation of the motor cortical inhibitory control network. The enhanced release of inhibitory activity persisted throughout training, which suggests that the cerebellar influence over the premotor cortex extends beyond adaptation to other stages of motor learning. The results from this study further understanding of cerebellum-motor connections as they relate to acquiring motor skills and may inform future skill training and rehabilitation protocols.
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spelling doaj.art-2fca1ba120bb4a5a89c7eb16c5ce20372023-11-24T14:32:35ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252023-10-011311152310.3390/brainsci13111523Investigating Cerebellar Modulation of Premovement Beta-Band Activity during Motor AdaptationLynea B. Kaethler0Katlyn E. Brown1Sean K. Meehan2W. Richard Staines3Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CanadaEnhancing cerebellar activity influences motor cortical activity and contributes to motor adaptation, though it is unclear which neurophysiological mechanisms contributing to adaptation are influenced by the cerebellum. Pre-movement beta event-related desynchronization (β-ERD), which reflects a release of inhibitory control in the premotor cortex during movement planning, is one mechanism that may be modulated by the cerebellum through cerebellar-premotor connections. We hypothesized that enhancing cerebellar activity with intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) would improve adaptation rates and increase β-ERD during motor adaptation. Thirty-four participants were randomly assigned to an active (A-iTBS) or sham cerebellar iTBS (S-iTBS) group. Participants performed a visuomotor task, using a joystick to move a cursor to targets, prior to receiving A-iTBS or S-iTBS, following which they completed training with a 45° rotation to the cursor movement. Behavioural adaptation was assessed using the angular error of the cursor path relative to the ideal trajectory. The results showed a greater adaptation rate following A-iTBS and an increase in β-ERD, specific to the high β range (20–30 Hz) during motor planning, compared to S-iTBS, indicative of cerebellar modulation of the motor cortical inhibitory control network. The enhanced release of inhibitory activity persisted throughout training, which suggests that the cerebellar influence over the premotor cortex extends beyond adaptation to other stages of motor learning. The results from this study further understanding of cerebellum-motor connections as they relate to acquiring motor skills and may inform future skill training and rehabilitation protocols.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/11/1523cerebellummotor cortexpremotorPMdadaptive plasticity
spellingShingle Lynea B. Kaethler
Katlyn E. Brown
Sean K. Meehan
W. Richard Staines
Investigating Cerebellar Modulation of Premovement Beta-Band Activity during Motor Adaptation
Brain Sciences
cerebellum
motor cortex
premotor
PMd
adaptive plasticity
title Investigating Cerebellar Modulation of Premovement Beta-Band Activity during Motor Adaptation
title_full Investigating Cerebellar Modulation of Premovement Beta-Band Activity during Motor Adaptation
title_fullStr Investigating Cerebellar Modulation of Premovement Beta-Band Activity during Motor Adaptation
title_full_unstemmed Investigating Cerebellar Modulation of Premovement Beta-Band Activity during Motor Adaptation
title_short Investigating Cerebellar Modulation of Premovement Beta-Band Activity during Motor Adaptation
title_sort investigating cerebellar modulation of premovement beta band activity during motor adaptation
topic cerebellum
motor cortex
premotor
PMd
adaptive plasticity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/11/1523
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AT seankmeehan investigatingcerebellarmodulationofpremovementbetabandactivityduringmotoradaptation
AT wrichardstaines investigatingcerebellarmodulationofpremovementbetabandactivityduringmotoradaptation