Sensorimotor attenuation by central motor command signals in the absence of movement.
Voluntary actions typically produce suppression of afferent sensation from the moving body part. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation to delay the output of motor commands from the motor cortex during voluntary movement. We show attenuation of sensation during this delay, in the absence of movement. We conclude that sensory suppression mainly relies on central signals related to the preparation for movement and that these signals are upstream of primary motor cortex.
Voss
Martin
M
Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK. martin.voss@charite.de
Ingram
James N
JN
Haggard
Patrick
P
Wolpert
Daniel M
DM
D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D014836:Volition