title: The cortical activation pattern during bilateral arm raising movements.
abstract: Bilateral arm raising movements have been used in brain rehabilitation for a long time. However, no study has been reported on the effect of these movements on the cerebral cortex. In this study, using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we attempted to investigate cortical activation generated during bilateral arm raising movements. Ten normal subjects were recruited for this study. fNIRS was performed using an fNIRS system with 49 channels. Bilateral arm raising movements were performed in sitting position at the rate of 0.5 Hz. We measured values of oxyhemoglobin and total hemoglobin in five regions of interest: the primary sensorimotor cortex, premotor cortex, supplementary motor area, prefrontal cortex, and posterior parietal cortex. During performance of bilateral arm raising movements, oxyhemoglobin and total hemoglobin values in the primary sensorimotor cortex, premotor cortex, supplementary motor area, and prefrontal cortex were similar, but higher in these regions than those in the prefrontal cortex. We observed activation of the arm somatotopic areas of the primary sensorimotor cortex and premotor cortex in both hemispheres during bilateral arm raising movements. According to this result, bilateral arm raising movements appeared to induce large-scale neuronal activation and therefore arm raising movements would be good exercise for recovery of brain functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Pyo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Robot System Research Division, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Robot System Research Division, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Dankook University, Cheonan-si, Chungnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Seok
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3873-9516
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yeo
keywords: bilateral arm raising; corticoreticulospinal tract; corticospinal tract; functional NIRS; motor control; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; neuronal activation