Topography and dipole analysis of reafferent electrical brain activity following the Bereitschaftspotential

Abstract

The cerebral events related to limb movements can be studied noninvasively with the method of evoked potentials. In this study, a brain potential is analysed that follows the onset of a simple finger movement. Because this potential occurred after active as well as after passive movements, its previously alleged reafferent somatosensory nature is confirmed in this study. Detailed topographic analysis revealed that this potential has the same polarity and merges with the preceeding Bereitschaftspotential (BP; in the active movement) at central electrodes, whereas at parietal electrodes polarity is opposite to the BP. In individual subjects, the maximum of the BP and the peak of the reafferent potential are separated by a small gap, previously described as pre-motion positivity. A comparison with the N20 potential of the electrically evoked somatosensory potential showed similar potential topography, albeit opposite polarity. The dipole analysis supported the view that the reafferent and the electrically evoked potentials are likely to arise from the same cortical area, namely the primary somatosensory cortex.