Post-stimulus beta responses are modulated by task duration

Daisie O. Pakenham, Andrew J. Quinn, Adam Fry, Susan T. Francis, Mark W. Woolrich, Matthew J. Brookes, Karen J. Mullinger*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)
236 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Modulation of beta-band neural oscillations during and following movement is a robust marker of brain function. In particular, the post-movement beta rebound (PMBR), which occurs on movement cessation, has been related to inhibition and connectivity in the healthy brain, and is perturbed in disease. However, to realise the potential of the PMBR as a biomarker, its modulation by task parameters must be characterised and its functional role determined. Here, we used MEG to image brain electrophysiology during and after a grip-force task, with the aim to characterise how task duration, in the form of an isometric contraction, modulates beta responses. Fourteen participants exerted a 30% maximum voluntary grip-force for 2, 5 and 10 s. Our results showed that the amplitude of the PMBR is modulated by task duration, with increasing duration significantly reducing PMBR amplitude and increasing its time-to-peak. No variation in the amplitude of the movement related beta decrease (MRBD) with task duration was observed. To gain insight into what may underlie these trial-averaged results, we used a Hidden Markov Model to identify the individual trial dynamics of a brain network encompassing bilateral sensorimotor areas. The rapidly evolving dynamics of this network demonstrated similar variation with task parameters to the ‘classical’ rebound, and we show that the modulation of the PMBR can be well-described in terms of increased frequency of beta events on a millisecond timescale rather than modulation of beta amplitude during this time period. Our results add to the emerging picture that, in the case of a carefully controlled paradigm, beta modulation can be systematically controlled by task parameters and such control can reveal new information as to the processes that generate the average beta timecourse. These findings will support design of clinically relevant paradigms and analysis pipelines in future use of the PMBR as a marker of neuropathology.

Original languageEnglish
Article number116288
Number of pages15
JournalNeuroImage
Volume206
Early online date22 Oct 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Medical Research Council [MR/M006301/1, MR/K005464/1] and the Wellcome Trust [106183/Z/14/Z, 203139/Z/16/Z]. DOP was funded by a research studentship from the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, UK. This research was supported by Nottingham Birmingham strategic collaboration fund. This research was supported by the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre. Appendix 1

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Authors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

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