Motor beta cortical oscillations are related with the gait kinematics of youth with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Objective: It is widely believed that the perinatal brain injuries seen in youth with cerebral palsy (CP) impact neuronal processing of sensory information and the production of leg motor actions during gait. However, very limited efforts have been made to evaluate the connection between neural activity within sensorimotor networks and the altered spatiotemportal gait biomechanics seen in youth with CP. The objective of this investigation was to use magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain imaging and biomechanical analysis to probe this connection. Methods: We examined the cortical beta oscillations serving motor control of the legs in a cohort of youth with CP (N = 20; Age = 15.5 AE 3 years; GMFCS levels I-III) and healthy controls (N = 15; Age = 14.1 AE 3 years) using MEG brain imaging and a goal-directed isometric knee target-matching task. Outside the scanner, a digital mat was used to quantify the spatiotemporal gait biomechanics. Results: Our MEG imaging results revealed that the participants with CP exhibited stronger sensorimotor beta oscillations during the motor planning and execution stages compared to the controls. Interestingly, we also found that those with the strongest sensorimotor beta oscillations during motor execution also tended to walk slower and have a reduced cadence. Interpretation: These results fuel the impression that the beta sensorimotor cortical oscillations that underlie leg musculature control may play a central role in the altered mobility seen in youth with CP.

Spinal Cord Microstructural Changes are Connected with the Aberrant Sensorimotor Cortical Oscillatory Activity in Adults with Cerebral Palsy

“…These combined results indicate that the uncharacteristic motor actions seen in adults with CP may be partially attributable to the weaker sensorimotor beta oscillations. Interestingly, this nding differs from our prior studies in youth with CP, which have shown that the beta ERD is stronger in those with CP relative to their age-matched peers during lower extremity tasks [47][48][49] . This discrepancy may indicate that the neurophysiological mechanisms that govern cortical oscillatory activity during the respective motor tasks differ, such as differences in cognitive load and movement certainty, or it may be more re ective of developmental differences between youth and adults with CP.…”

“…Prior clinical investigations have shown that the strength of beta and gamma sensorimotor cortical oscillations are altered in youth with CP. Speci cally, several investigations have reported that the beta ERD within the primary motor cortex, the premotor cortex, and the supplementary motor area is stronger in youth with CP relative to age-matched controls during leg movements [47][48][49] . Furthermore, the gamma ERS has been shown to be weaker in youth with CP during a lower extremity motor task.…”

Weaker Connectivity of the Cortical Networks Is Linked with the Uncharacteristic Gait in Youth with Cerebral Palsy

“…This specific association may be related by the existence of physiologically relevant occipitomotor, but not auditory-motor, functional connections [60]. Several previous MEG studies have supported the idea that greater motor impairments may be directly linked with altered integration between sensorimotor and visuo-perceptual modalities in youth with CP [2,61,62]. Together with the current work, these results further support the premise that the uncharacteristic gait seen in youth with CP may be driven by a disconnectivity between the sensorimotor and visual networks [63].…”

“…Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most prevalent pediatric neurologic impairment diagnosed in the United States and often results in lifelong mobility challenges [1]. The breadth of the muscular performance and sensory acuity deficiencies in youth with CP have largely fueled the impression that the altered spatiotemporal gait biomechanics primarily originate from aberrations in sensorimotor cortical activity [2][3][4][5]. Despite this impression, a growing body of literature has highlighted that youth with CP also have altered activity in the primary occipital cortices and visual MT areas while processing visual stimuli [6][7][8].…”

Massage Therapy’s Effectiveness on the Decoding EEG Rhythms of Left/Right Motor Imagery and Motion Execution in Patients With Skeletal Muscle Pain

“…Some of them focused on differences in connectivity patterns between MI and ME [12] , [26] . The experimental method most frequently used to test the common-basis hypothesis for real vs. virtual movements is function magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) [22] , [27] , Magnetoencephalography (MEG) [28] , near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) [29] , and EEG. The primary motor cortex (M1) signals’ importance has been reported in providing the information necessary for BCI.…”