Synchronous cortical oscillatory activity during motor action

Abstract

Oscillations of the motor cortex interact with similar activity of the spinal motoneuron pool in the 15-30 Hertz frequency range. Recent observations have demonstrated how this interaction affects the firing of single corticospinal neurons. The interaction, reflected as corticomuscular coherence, occurs for both distal and proximal muscles and it constitutes one connection in a larger web of oscillatory interactions, including several other motor areas in the cortex, thalamus, and cerebellum. New results cast light on the possible functional significance of this interaction. The rhythmic interaction may reveal interesting information in several motor disorders, including essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, myoclonus epilepsy, and mirror movements.