Shared neural resources between left and right interlimb coordination skills: The neural substrate of abstract motor representations

Swinnen, Stephan; Vangheluwe, S; Wagemans, Johan; Coxon, James; Goble, Daniel; Van Impe, Annouchka; Sunaert, Stefan; Peeters, Ron; Wenderoth, Nicole

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.10.052

Shared neural resources between left and right interlimb coordination skills: The neural substrate of abstract motor representations

Author:

Swinnen, Stephan

Vangheluwe, S ; Wagemans, Johan ; Coxon, James ; Goble, Daniel ; Van Impe, Annouchka ; Sunaert, Stefan ; Peeters, Ron ; Wenderoth, Nicole

Keywords:

Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Neurosciences, Neuroimaging, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging, Neurosciences & Neurology, fMRI, Interlimb coordination, Hemispheric specialization, Motor equivalence, Mirror neurons, Abstract representation, Effector independence, NONEQUILIBRIUM PHASE-TRANSITIONS, INFERIOR FRONTAL GYRUS, BRAIN ACTIVATION, BIMANUAL COORDINATION, SEQUENTIAL MOVEMENTS, PARIETAL CORTEX, PREMOTOR CORTEX, FOOT MOVEMENTS, TASK, LIMB, Adult, Biomechanical Phenomena, Brain, Brain Mapping, Female, Functional Laterality, Humans, Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Psychomotor Performance, Young Adult, 11 Medical and Health Sciences, 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, Neurology & Neurosurgery, 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences, 42 Health sciences

Abstract:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to reveal the shared neural resources between movements performed with effectors of the left versus right body side. Prior to scanning, subjects extensively practiced a complex coordination pattern involving cyclical motions of the ipsilateral hand and foot according to a 90 degrees out-of-phase coordination mode. Brain activity associated with this (nonpreferred) coordination pattern was contrasted with pre-existing isodirectional (preferred) coordination to extract the learning-related brain networks. To identify the principal candidates for effector-independent movement encoding, the conjunction of training-related activity for left and right limb coordination was determined. A dominantly left-lateralized parietal-to-(pre)motor activation network was identified, with activation in inferior and superior parietal cortex extending into intraparietal sulcus and activation in the premotor areas, including inferior frontal gyrus (pars opercularis). Similar areas were previously identified during observation of complex coordination skills by expert performers. These parietal-premotor areas are principal candidates for abstract (effector-independent) movement encoding, promoting motor equivalence, and they form the highest level in the action representation hierarchy.