The Difference of Neural Networks between Bimanual Antiphase and In-Phase Upper Limb Movements: A Preliminary Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Abstract

Most daily movements require some degree of collaboration between the upper limbs. The neural mechanisms are bimanual-condition specific and therefore should be different between different activities. In this study, we aimed to explore intraregional activation and interregional connectivity during bimanual movement by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Ten right-handed, normal subjects were recruited. The neural correlates of unimanual (right side) and bimanual (in-phase and antiphase) upper limb movements were investigated. Connectivity analyses were carried out using the psychophysiological interaction (PPI) model. The cerebellum was strongly activated in both unimanual and bimanual movements, and the cingulate motor area (CMA) was the most activated brain area in antiphase bimanual movement. Moreover, compared with unimanual movement, CMA activation was also observed in antiphase bimanual movement, but not in in-phase bimanual movement. In addition, we carried out the PPI model to study the differences of effective connectivity and found that the cerebellum was more connected with the CMA during antiphase bimanual movement than in-phase bimanual movement. Our findings elucidate the differences of the cerebellar-cerebral functional connectivity between antiphase and in-phase bimanual movements, which could be used to facilitate the development of a neuroscience perspective on bimanual movement control in patients with motor impairments.

Combining Movement-Related Cortical Potentials and Event-Related Desynchronization to Study Movement Preparation and Execution

“…Neural networks within and between hemispheres are necessary to coordinate motor functions not only for bilateral but also for unilateral movements. The neural network generating the coordination function between hemispheres was proposed to be the cingulate motor area and the cerebellum ( 55 ). The ipsilateral hemisphere involved in a motor task might contribute to the modulation, balance, or prohibition of the motor tasks.…”

Performance of Bimanual Finger Coordination Tasks in Speakers Who Stutter

“…Since Parallel movement requires more complex and carefully coordinated movements than Mirror movement, the contrast between the two is suitable for extracting higher-order motor cortical representations of complex control. Many previous imaging studies, including those using positron emission tomography (PET; Sadato et al, 1997 ), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI; Haslinger et al, 2004 ; Wu et al, 2010 ; Lin et al, 2017 ), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS; Wilson et al, 2014 ), have shown that the supplementary motor area is more activated during Parallel than during Mirror movement tasks. In an fMRI study by Wu et al ( 2010 ) on PD, often highlighted in stuttering studies because of its shared features with stuttering (Alm, 2004 ), the control group showed higher activity in the supplementary motor area during Parallel movements compared with Mirror.…”

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