title: Cortical EEG alpha rhythms reflect task-specific somatosensory and motor interactions in humans.
abstract: Anticipating sensorimotor events allows adaptive reactions to environment with crucial implications for self-protection and survival. Here we review several studies of our group that aimed to test the hypothesis that the cortical processes preparing the elaboration of sensorimotor interaction is reflected by the reduction of anticipatory electroencephalographic alpha power (about 8-12Hz; event-related desynchronization, ERD), as an index that regulate task-specific sensorimotor processes, accounted by high-alpha sub-band (10-12Hz), rather than a general tonic alertness, accounted by low-alpha sub-band (8-10Hz). In this line, we propose a model for human cortical processes anticipating warned sensorimotor interactions. Overall, we reported a stronger high-alpha ERD before painful than non-painful somatosensory stimuli that is also predictive of the subjective evaluation of pain intensity. Furthermore, we showed that anticipatory high-alpha ERD increased before sensorimotor interactions between non-painful or painful stimuli and motor demands involving opposite hands. In contrast, sensorimotor interactions between painful somatosensory and sensorimotor demands involving the same hand decreased anticipatory high-alpha ERD, due to a sort of sensorimotor "gating" effect. In conclusion, we suggest that anticipatory cortical high-alpha rhythms reflect the central interference and/or integration of ascending (sensory) and descending (motor) signals relative to one or two hands before non-painful and painful sensorimotor interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy; IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: claudio.babiloni@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Babiloni
authors.affiliation: IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Percio
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SMI - Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, University of Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arendt-Nielsen
authors.affiliation: IRCCS SDN, Napoli, Italy; Department of Studies of Institutions and Territorial Systems, University of Naples Parthenope, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soricelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science, and Institute of Advanced Biomedical Technology, University "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Romani
authors.affiliation: IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy; Department of Geriatrics, Neuroscience & Orthopedics, Institute of Neurology Catholic University ''Sacro Cuore", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo Maria
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science, and Institute of Advanced Biomedical Technology, University "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capotosto
mesh_terms: D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Alpha rhythms; Event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS); Expectancy; High-resolution electroencephalography (EEG); Pain; Sensorimotor interactions