A parametric fMRI investigation of context effects in sensorimotor timing and coordination

Abstract

Mounting evidence suggests that information derived from environmental and behavioral sources is represented and maintained in the brain in a context-dependent manner. Here we investigate whether activity patterns underlying movements paced according to an internal temporal representation depend on how that representation is acquired during a previous pacing phase. We further investigate the degree to which context dependence is modulated by different time delays between pacing and continuation. BOLD activity was recorded while subjects moved at a rate established during a pacing interval involving either synchronized or syncopated coordination. Either no-delay or a 3, 6 or 9 s delay was introduced prior to continuation. Context-dependent regions were identified when differences in neural activity generated during pacing continued to be observed during continuation despite the intervening delay. This pattern was observed in pre-SMA, bilateral lateral premotor cortex, bilateral declive and left inferior semi lunar lobule. These regions were more active when continuation followed from syncopation than from synchronization regardless of the delay length putatively revealing a context-dependent neural representation of the temporal interval. Alternatively, task related regions in which coordination-dependent differences did not persist following the delay, included bilateral putamen and supplementary-motor-area. This network may support the differential timing demands of coordination. A classic prefrontal-parietal-temporal working memory network was active only during continuation possibly providing mnemonic support for actively maintaining temporal information during the variable delay. This work provides support for the hypothesis that some timing information is represented in a task-dependent manner across broad cortical and subcortical networks.

Social coordination dynamics: Measuring human bonding

“…A notable feature of this framework is its ability to uncover generic mechanisms common to different kinds of systems at different levels of observation. For instance, the same basic patterns of coordinated behavior and pattern dynamics (multistability, critical fluctuations accompanied by a temporary loss of stability, phase transitions, hysteresis and critical slowing down) have been observed within an individual as in studies of bimanual and single limb movement coordination, studies of sensorimotor coordination between an individual and the environment or between individuals (Jantzen & Kelso, 2007;Kelso, 1995;and Swinnen, 2002 for reviews). Here we investigate how the natural (uninstructed) social influence of one person on another evolves in real time and report two key findings: the first is that humans immediately and spontaneously coordinate their actions with each other when provided vision of the movements of the other's hand together with their own.…”

“…In addition, other neural systems are likely to be required for our task to be performed. Among them is the cerebellum which has been reported to play a key role in perceiving (Leube, Knoblich, Erb, Grodd, Bartels, & Kirchera, 2003) and timing one's movements (Ivry & Spencer, 2004;Jantzen, Oullier, Marshall, Steinberg & Kelso, 2007).…”

Sensorimotor synchronization: A review of recent research (2006–2012)

“…This pattern was found for both unimanual and bimanual tapping, and it suggested a higher demand of motor timing in areas such as SMA when the external pacing signal was absent. Similarly, Jantzen, Oullier, Marshall, Steinberg, and Kelso (2007) found that significant activity in the prefrontal-parietal-temporal network-consisting of dorsal and ventral prefrontal cortex, middle temporal gyrus, and bilateral parietal lobes-was present only in continuation tapping, not in synchronized tapping. Activity in these areas is typically associated with various working memory manipulations, and the observed activity was interpreted as the increased demand on working memory for the temporal representation of stimuli when the pacing signal was switched off.…”

“…(a) Areas associated with covert sensorimotor synchronization and a perceived beat (Grahn & Brett, 2007;Grahn & Rowe, 2013;Teki et al, 2011). (b) Areas associated with externally paced and self-paced tapping (Brown et al, 2006;Jantzen et al, 2007;Kornysheva & Schubotz, 2011). (c) Areas within 16 mm from the brain surface that are associated with antiphase versus in-phase tapping and with the complexity of the pacing signal (J.L.…”

Contextual encoding by ensembles of medial prefrontal cortex neurons

“…Context can also help to inform the subject about potential changes in the meaning of stimuli and actions. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is involved in various forms of cognition that depend on spatial and contextual information, including context-based cognitive tasks (2-4), contextual fear conditioning (5), and context-induced drug relapse (6)(7)(8), and is believed to be an important node in the "context" network (1,(9)(10)(11)(12). These functions likely depend on reciprocal interactions with the hippocampus (13,14), an area that has a well-established role in spatial and contextual processing (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20).…”