Event-related beta desynchronization indicates timing of response selection in a delayed-response paradigm in humans.
Voluntary movements are preceded by event-related desynchronization (ERD) of alpha and beta activity. The present study used magnetoencephalography to investigate the relationship between motor preparation and the time course of beta ERD in a delayed response paradigm. Depending on the task, the required response (left or right finger lifting) was cued either spatially by the lateralization of a sound at trial onset, or verbally by the content of a midline auditory event. Beta ERD appeared over sensorimotor regions contralaterally to the response side about 200 ms earlier for the spatial than the verbal cue task. This suggests a close relationship between the latency of beta ERD onset and the duration of cognitive processes involved in selecting a motor response.
Kaiser
J
J
MEG-Center, Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Gartenstrasse 29, 72074 Tübingen, Germany. jochen.kaiser@uni-tuebingen.de
Birbaumer
N
N
Lutzenberger
W
W
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003344:Cortical Synchronization; D003463:Cues; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology