Modulation of Corticospinal Output to Human Hand Muscles Following Deprivation of Sensory Feedback

doi:10.1006/nimg.1998.0352

NeuroImage

Volume 8, Issue 2, August 1998, Pages 163-175

https://doi.org/10.1006/nimg.1998.0352 Get rights and content

Abstract

Excitability and conductivity of corticospinal tracts of 10 volunteers were investigated by motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) to transcranial magnetic brain stimulation, before and after anesthetic block of right median (sensory + motor) and radial (sensory) nervous fibers at the wrist. MEPs were simultaneously recorded from two ulnar-supplied muscles during full relaxation and voluntary contraction. These muscles maintained an intact strength following anesthesia, but they were in a remarkably different condition with respect to the surrounding skin: the first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI) was totally “enveloped” within the anesthetized area but was still dispatching a normal proprioceptive feedback; the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) was preserving both cutaneous and proprioceptive information. Spinal and peripheral nerve excitability were monitored as well. The sensory deprivation induced short-term changes which selectively took place within the hemisphere connected to the anesthetized hand. The physiological latency “anticipation” of MEPs recorded during active contraction versus relaxation was reduced (P< 0.001) in the FDI, but not in the ADM, when values during anesthesia were compared with preanesthesia values. The FDI cortical representation—as analyzed by a mapping procedure of the motor cortex via focal stimuli of several scalp positions—was significantly (P< 0.002) reduced, while the ADM representation remained either unchanged or enlarged. MEP and F-wave variability significantly decreased in the FDI but not in the ADM. F-waves were also affected due to changes in the motoneuronal excitability at spinal level. Peripheral nerve and root stimulation showed no modifications. Results are discussed in view of the short-term modifications of the corticospinal pathway somatotopy produced by the selective reduction of the sensory flow. Implications of the sensory feedback in motor control are also discussed.

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Regular ArticleModulation of Corticospinal Output to Human Hand Muscles Following Deprivation of Sensory Feedback

Abstract

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Lancet

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Brain Res.

Brain Res.

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Neurosci. Lett.

Brain Res.

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Brain Res.

Brain Res.

Neurosci. Lett.

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

Impulses in the pyramidal tract

J. Physiol. (London)

Direct sensory pathways to the motor cortex in the monkey: A basis of cortical reflexes

Integration in the Nervous System

Peripheral input pathways to the monkey motor cortex

Exp. Brain Res.

Rapid reversible modulation of human motor outputs after transient deafferentation of the forearm: A study with transcranial magnetic stimulation

Neurology

Rapid modulation of human cortical motor outputs following ischaemic nerve block

Brain

A primate model of focal dystonia and repetitive strain injury: Learning-induced dedifferentiation of the representation of the hand in the primary somatosensory cortex in adult monkeys

Neurology

Acute changes in cutaneous receptive fields in primary somatosensory cortex after digit denervation in adult flying fox

J. Neurophysiol.

The importance of sample size for estimation of F-wave latency parameter in the ulnar nerve

Muscle Nerve

Regular Article
Modulation of Corticospinal Output to Human Hand Muscles Following Deprivation of Sensory Feedback