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Print version ISSN 0004-282X
Arq. Neuro-Psiquiatr. vol.65 no.3a São Paulo Sept. 2007
Mudanças na potência absoluta no EEG quantitativo durante tarefa de apreensão de um objeto em queda livre
Sergio MachadoI, V; Cláudio Elidio PortellaI; Julio Guilherme SilvaI, V; Bruna VelasquesI, V; Patrícia TerraIII; Camila Ferreira VorkapicI; Vernon Furtado da SilvaIII; Luis MianaIII; Luis BasileIV; Mauricio CagyI, V; Roberto PiedadeI, V; Pedro RibeiroI, II, III, V
ILaboratório de Mapeamento Cerebral e Integração Sensório-Motor, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil (IPUB/UFRJ)
IIDepartamento de Biociências da Atividade Física, Escola de Educação Física e Desportos (EEFD/UFRJ)
IIIUniversidade Castelo Branco (PROCIHM)
IVDepartamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo SP, Brazil (USP)
VInstituto Brasileiro de Biociências Neurais (IBBN)
The aim of this study was to verify changes in absolute power (qEEG), in theta, during the catch of a free falling object. The sample consisted of 10 healthy individuals, of both genders, with ages between 25 and 40 years. A three-way ANOVA followed by Post-Hoc analysis was applied. The results demonstrated main effects for time and position. In conclusion, a motor task that involves expectation produces deactivation of non-relevant areas in the ipsilateral hemisphere of the active limb. On the other hand, the patterns of results showed activation in areas responsible for planning and selection of motor repertories in the contralateral hemisphere.
Key words: absolute power, qEEG, planning, sensorimotor integration.
O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar mudanças na potência absoluta (EEGq), em teta, durante a pegada de objeto em queda livre. A amostra consistiu de 20 indivíduos saudáveis, de ambos os gêneros, com idade entre 25 e 40 anos. Foi utilizada uma ANOVA three-way seguida de uma análise Post-Hoc. Os resultados demonstraram efeito principal para momento e posição. Concluindo, uma tarefa motora que envolve expectativa produz desativação de áreas não-relevantes no hemisfério ipsilateral do membro ativo. Por outro lado, o padrão dos resultados mostrou ativação em áreas responsáveis por planejamento e seleção de repertórios motores no hemisfério contralateral.
Palavras-chave: potência absoluta, EEGq, planejamento, integração sensório-motora.
Motor behavior is the product of a fine integration between cortical and peripheral components associated to afferent information. The central nervous system (CNS) captures, identifies and processes sensory stimuli in order to prepare and adjust motor behavior1. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is an integration cortex. It is considered neither a sensory nor a motor cortex; it is an association region, providing integration sensory stimuli to motor centers2,3. The PFC is involved in cognition, attention maintenance, planning and organization, including the capacity to follow certain thought sequences and behavior strategy choices4. Plastic alterations might occur in this area regarding motor reactions (reaction time, anticipatory movements and motor learning), which might lead to performance and gesture precision improvement5.
Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) has made possible the elucidation of cognitive processes and motor learning6, 7. Specific electroencephalographic variables are particularly related to such processes. Absolute power, defined as total energy intensity of an electrode on a certain region at different frequency bands8. Therefore, the present study examined the theta band (47 Hz), due to its relation with attention processes, particularly, sustained attention9. Previous experimental data showed an association between theta and cognitive and visual-spatial tasks10. Such tasks involve dynamic and complex sensory-motor integration processes11.
This study aimed at trying to elucidate electrophysiological and cortical mechanisms involved in anticipatory actions when individuals had to catch a free falling object; specifically through qEEG theta absolute power changes.
The sample was composed for 20 healthy individuals of both sexes with ages varying between 25 and 40 years, absence of mental and physical illness (previous anamnesis), right handed (Edinburgh), and do not using any psychoactive or psychotropic substance at the time of the study. The experiment consisted of a task of catching an object in free fall. The balls were discharged by an electromagnetic system, composed of two solenoids. The interval between the falling balls was 11 seconds, each ball was a trial and each block was made of 15 trials. The entire experiment consisted of three blocks, lasting 2 min and 30 sec each, with 1 min interval between the blocks. The intervals favored the recovery of the active limb, avoiding muscular fatigue. The qEEG acquisition occurred during 2 seconds before the ball fall and 2 seconds after the ball fall12.
Spatial electrode localization and frequency bands Since motivation, planning and execution of voluntary movements are mediated by the frontal lobes13,14, the frontal area was investigated in the present study. Electrodes investigated were: F7, F3, FZ, F8, F4. The theta band (47 Hz) was also chosen due to its association with attention processes particularly sustained attention9, and space-visual tasks10.
Statistical analysis A Three-Way ANOVA and a Post Hoc were used for each electrode combination. The factors time (pre and post ball fall) blocks (whole task time) and position (the three electrode combinations) a) F3/F4; b) F7/F8; and c) F3F7/F4F8, were compared (p<0.05).
In the first analysis, when the left prefrontal cortex was compared to the right prefrontal cortex (F3/F4), one main effect for the factors time (p=0.002) and position (p=0.002) (Fig 1) was observed. In the second analysis, when the left prefrontal cortex was compared to the right prefrontal cortex (F7/F8), another main effect was observed for time (p=0.006) and position (p=0.000) factors (Fig 2). In the third analysis, when the left prefrontal cortex was compared to the right prefrontal cortex (F3F7/F4F8), an additional main effect for the time (p=0.002) and position (p=0.000) factors was observed (Fig 3). No interactions among effects were detected.
The current experiment is an attempt to elucidate cortical/electrophysiological mechanisms regarding anticipatory actions involved in voluntary movements, specifically, when subjects had to catch a free falling object (in this case, a ball). Through qEEG, changes in the theta frequency band power were examined. No interactions among the factors were observed, so discussion will only refer to the main effects.
Time factor In this experiment, subjects had to observe the fall of a certain object with the objective of catching it. An electromagnetic system, made of two solenoids, was positioned ahead of the subjects in order to send information about the pre and post fall time to the computer12. Results demonstrated a theta absolute power increase in the post fall period, when compared to the pre fall period. This increase suggests a decrease in neural activity and consequently a reduced readiness engagement subsequent to the task. Inversely, the period before the object fall revealed a diminished power value, which seems to reflect an increase in neural activity. This might suggest increased expectation, alertness and readiness15 when the object was falling. Our data are in agreement with previous investigation showing reduced theta values in the pre-stimulus period and increased theta values in the post stimulus period during continuous motor activities10.
Position factor Differences in absolute power values between the left prefrontal and the right prefrontal cortices were observed. According to our results, there was a theta absolute power augmentation when certain regions were isolated, F3/F4, and F7/F8; and when electrodes were summed F3F7/F4F8. Considering that a theta power increase could be interpreted as a deactivation of the involved cortical area, the power augmentation observed in the right hemisphere suggests disengagement during the task. Traditionally, the right hemisphere is related to spatial functions such as memory, learning and orientation16-18. A specialization of the right hemisphere in spatial functions might be related to (spatial) attention control of visual representation19,20, or a regulation function in conflict situations21, as when experiencing a bad interaction between motor and proprioceptive interaction and/or visual feedback22.
Hatfield et al.23 observed, through EEGq, an alpha power increase in the left hemisphere of elite shooters during the preparatory period and even after the shot was fired. Besides, this alpha power increase was followed by relative power stability in right hemisphere. Alpha power has an inverse relationship with cortical activation. High power values means diminished neuronal activity23,24. Investigations in motor performance area reveal that an alpha power increase remains relatively stable or even decreases in the right hemisphere during the preparatory period, suggesting that these regions could be highly activated during the preparatory phase of complex motor tasks25. Considering the hypothesis that theta presents the same behavior as alpha, our findings suggest an activation of the responsible areas for planning and selection of motor patterns in the contralateral hemispheres of the active limb. It also suggests a deactivation of non relevant areas of the ipsilateral hemisphere.
Thalamic structures (interaction between thalamic nuclei and thalamic reticular nucleus) activate specific cortical areas at a certain time of the relevant information processing and deactivate others not used during the task execution26. Such process could be interpreted as an electroencephalographic correlate of activated cortical areas involved in the sensory information processing and motor behavior production27. This might indicate a participation of a broader neural network in the information processing28.
In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that the execution of a motor task involving expectation, such as an object fall, produces deactivation of non relevant areas in the ipsilateral hemisphere of the utilized limb. An activation of responsible areas for planning and motor pattern selection was also observed in the contralateral hemisphere of the utilized limb. Different population, other than healthy subjects, should also be considered for new experiments, for example, patients suffering from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, in an attempt to observe specific variables such as attention, anticipatory movements, reaction time and motor planning and execution.
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Received 9 November 2006, received in final form 9 February 2007. Accepted 3 April 2007.
Dr. Sergio Eduardo de Carvalho Machado - Rua Professor Sabóia Ribeiro 69 / 104 - 22430-130 Rio de Janeiro RJ - Brasil. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.org