High post‐movement parietal low‐beta power during rhythmic tapping facilitates performance in a stop task. (20th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fischer, Petra; Tan, Huiling; Pogosyan, Alek; Brown, Peter
• Editors: Rousselet, Guillaume
• Is Part Of: European journal of neuroscience. Volume 44:Number 5(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 2202
• Page End: 2213
• Publication Date: 2016-07-20
• Subjects: finger tapping -- motor inhibition -- sensorimotor synchronization -- stop signal; Nervous system -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13328
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-816X

Abstract

Abstract: Voluntary movements are followed by a post‐movement electroencephalography (EEG) beta rebound, which increases with practice and confidence in a task. We hypothesized that greater beta modulation reflects less load on cognitive resources and may thus be associated with faster reactions to new stimuli. EEG was recorded in 17 healthy subjects during rhythmically paced index finger tapping. In a STOP condition, participants had to interrupt the upcoming tap in response to an auditory cue, which was timed such that stopping was successful only in ~ 50% of all trials. In a second condition, participants carried on tapping twice after the stop signal (CONTINUE condition). Thus the conditions were distinct in whether abrupt stopping was required as a second task. Modulation of 12–20 Hz power over motor and parietal areas developed with time on each trial and more so in the CONTINUE condition. Reduced modulation in the STOP condition went along with reduced negative mean asynchronies suggesting less confident anticipation of the timing of the next tap. Yet participants were more likely to stop when beta modulation prior to the stop cue was more pronounced. In the STOP condition, expectancy of the stop signal may have increased cognitive load during movement execution given that the task might have to be stopped abruptly. However, within this condition, stopping ability was increased if the preceding tap was followed by a relatively larger beta increase. Significant, albeit weak, correlations confirmed that increased post‐movement beta power was associated with faster reactions to new stimuli, consistent with reduced cognitive load. Abstract : 12–20 Hz beta modulation during auditory‐paced finger tapping over parietal and contralateral motor cortex was reduced if sudden movement inhibition was required. Negative mean asynchrony was also reduced indicating more hesitant tapping to the sound. Yet if the beta increase following the last regular tap was relatively high, tapping was more successfully interrupted when required. Elevated beta may thus reflect reduced cognitive load and increased confidence in current performance.