Basal ganglia beta oscillations accompany cue utilization.
Beta oscillations in cortical-basal ganglia (BG) circuits have been implicated in normal movement suppression and motor impairment in Parkinson's disease. To dissect the functional correlates of these rhythms we compared neural activity during four distinct variants of a cued choice task in rats. Brief beta (∼20 Hz) oscillations occurred simultaneously throughout the cortical-BG network, both spontaneously and at precise moments of task performance. Beta phase was rapidly reset in response to salient cues, yet increases in beta power were not rigidly linked to cues, movements, or movement suppression. Rather, beta power was enhanced after cues were used to determine motor output. We suggest that beta oscillations reflect a postdecision stabilized state of cortical-BG networks, which normally reduces interference from alternative potential actions. The abnormally strong beta seen in Parkinson's Disease may reflect overstabilization of these networks, producing pathological persistence of the current motor state.
Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Daniel K
DK
Leventhal
Gregory J
GJ
Gage
Robert
R
Schmidt
Jeffrey R
JR
Pettibone
Alaina C
AC
Case
Joshua D
JD
Berke
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000502:physiology*; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D007839:Functional Laterality; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011930:Reaction Time; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013997:Time Factors