TY - JOUR
T1 - The early release of planned movement by acoustic startle can be delayed by transcranial magnetic stimulation over the motor cortex
AU - Alibiglou, Laila
AU - Mackinnon, Colum D.
PY - 2012/2
Y1 - 2012/2
N2 - Previous studies have shown that preplanned movements can be rapidly released when a startling acoustic stimulus (SAS) is presented immediately prior to, or coincident with, the imperative signal to initiate movement. Based on the short latency of the onset of muscle activity (typically in less than 90 ms) and the frequent co-expression of startle responses in the neck and eye muscles, it has been proposed that the release of planned movements by a SAS is mediated by subcortical, possibly brainstem, pathways. However, a role for cortical structures in mediating these responses cannot be ruled out based on timing arguments alone. We examined the role of the cortex in the mediation of these responses by testing if a suprathreshold transcranial magnetic stimulation applied over the primary motor cortex, which suppresses voluntary drive and is known to delay movement initiation, could delay the release of movement by a SAS. Eight subjects performed an instructed-delay task requiring them to make a ballistic wrist movement to a target in response to an acoustic tone (control task condition). In a subset of trials subjects received one of the following: (1) suprathreshold TMS over the contralateral primary motor cortex 70 ms prior to their mean response time on control trials (TMS CT), (2) SAS 200 ms prior to the go cue (SAS), (3) suprathreshold TMS 70 ms prior to the mean SAS-evoked response time (TMS SAS), or (4) TMS SAS and SAS presented concurrently (TMS+SAS). Movement kinematics and EMG from the wrist extensors and flexors and sternocleidomastoid muscles were recorded. The application of TMS CT prior to control voluntary movements produced a significant delay in movement onset times (P< 0.001) (average delay = 37.7 ± 12.8 ms). The presentation of a SAS alone at -200 ms resulted in the release of the planned movement an average of 71.7 ± 2.7 ms after the startling stimulus. The early release of movement by a SAS was significantly delayed (P< 0.001, average delay = 35.0 ± 12.9 ms) when TMS SAS and SAS were presented concurrently. This delay could not be explained by a prolonged suppression of motor unit activity at the spinal level. These findings provide evidence that the release of targeted ballistic wrist movements by SAS is mediated, in part, by a fast conducting transcortical pathway via the primary motor cortex.
AB - Previous studies have shown that preplanned movements can be rapidly released when a startling acoustic stimulus (SAS) is presented immediately prior to, or coincident with, the imperative signal to initiate movement. Based on the short latency of the onset of muscle activity (typically in less than 90 ms) and the frequent co-expression of startle responses in the neck and eye muscles, it has been proposed that the release of planned movements by a SAS is mediated by subcortical, possibly brainstem, pathways. However, a role for cortical structures in mediating these responses cannot be ruled out based on timing arguments alone. We examined the role of the cortex in the mediation of these responses by testing if a suprathreshold transcranial magnetic stimulation applied over the primary motor cortex, which suppresses voluntary drive and is known to delay movement initiation, could delay the release of movement by a SAS. Eight subjects performed an instructed-delay task requiring them to make a ballistic wrist movement to a target in response to an acoustic tone (control task condition). In a subset of trials subjects received one of the following: (1) suprathreshold TMS over the contralateral primary motor cortex 70 ms prior to their mean response time on control trials (TMS CT), (2) SAS 200 ms prior to the go cue (SAS), (3) suprathreshold TMS 70 ms prior to the mean SAS-evoked response time (TMS SAS), or (4) TMS SAS and SAS presented concurrently (TMS+SAS). Movement kinematics and EMG from the wrist extensors and flexors and sternocleidomastoid muscles were recorded. The application of TMS CT prior to control voluntary movements produced a significant delay in movement onset times (P< 0.001) (average delay = 37.7 ± 12.8 ms). The presentation of a SAS alone at -200 ms resulted in the release of the planned movement an average of 71.7 ± 2.7 ms after the startling stimulus. The early release of movement by a SAS was significantly delayed (P< 0.001, average delay = 35.0 ± 12.9 ms) when TMS SAS and SAS were presented concurrently. This delay could not be explained by a prolonged suppression of motor unit activity at the spinal level. These findings provide evidence that the release of targeted ballistic wrist movements by SAS is mediated, in part, by a fast conducting transcortical pathway via the primary motor cortex.
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U2 - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.219592
DO - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.219592
M3 - Article
C2 - 22124142
AN - SCOPUS:84856882072
SN - 0022-3751
VL - 590
SP - 919
EP - 936
JO - Journal of Physiology
JF - Journal of Physiology
IS - 4
ER -