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The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between force and rate of force development with electroencephalogram correlates. The primary question was whether the different components of movement related potentials (MRPs) were related to specific properties of force output while subjects performed index finger force production tasks. The peak force and rate of force development (e.g., a product of peak force over time-to-peak force) were manipulated, and the effects of these manipulations on components of MRPs preceding and accompanying force production tasks were examined. The hypothesis was that the rate of force development, rather than level of force itself, would directly influence the later component of MRPs. Consistent with this hypothesis was the finding that the amplitudes of MRP components preceding (MP) and accompanying (MMP, MTP) finger force production movements were significantly correlated with force development rate.

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In a number of recent studies, the specific sensitivity of movement-related EEG potentials toward experimental manipulations of motor tasks using the index finger as a primary end-effector is well documented. The major question in this study was whether different movement-related EEG components are primarily end-effector or task dependent. Accordingly, the experimental task (i.e., the rate of force development - a ratio of peak force to time-to-peak force) was systematically manipulated and the effects of this manipulation on movement-related potentials were examined while subjects used either the index, middle, ring or little finger. Significant effects observed in this study were due mainly to the sensitivity of movement-related potentials preceding movement onset (Bereit shafts potential and motor potential) toward the specific finger performing the task and the sensitivity of components accompanying the task (movement-monitoring potential) toward the rate of force development. In addition, both movement-related potentials preceding and accompanying movement significantly changed as a function of the finger performing the slow task (lower rate of force development) with maximum values observed for the ring finger and minimal values observed for the index finger. Behaviorally subjects were less accurate during slow tasks regardless of the finger performing the task. In contrast, the amplitude of neither early nor late components of movement-related potentials changed as a function of the finger performing the fast task (higher rate of force development). Overall, our results are consistent with the notion that the whole complex of movement-related EEG potentials reflect a combination of factors including the selection of corresponding general motor programs as reflected in the amplitude of potentials preceding movement and specific elements of the task including rate of force development as reflected in the amplitude of potentials accompanying movement execution.

We examined the relationship between force and rate of force development aspects of movement dynamics and electroencephalogram motor components as reflected in the lateralized readiness potential~LRP!. Using self-paced tasks, in Studies 1 and 3 we investigated whether differential speed and accuracy constraints in discrete and repetitive finger force production tasks influenced the LRP. These studies showed that speed tasks produced larger LRP than accuracy tasks regardless of whether the movement type was discrete or repetitive. In Studies 2 and 4 we studied four conditions with two levels of force and two levels of rate of force development. The largest LRPs were found with the greatest rate of force development. Overall, the four studies demonstrated that preparation for differential rates of force development is a major component reflected in the LRP.