Skip to main content
Log in

Cross-correlation studies of movement-related cortical potentials during unilateral and bilateral muscle contractions in humans

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A useful method of studying the degree of association between two signals of varying amplitude in the time domain is to use cross-correlation analysis. We applied this to the movement-related cortical potentials digitally filtered so as to eliminate the low frequency component before applying it during maximal unilateral left (UL L), unilateral right (UL R) and bilateral (BL) contractions in I I right-handed subjects. The recording electrode sites were over the right and left motor cortex areas (C3 and C4). The BL condition revealed higher cross-correlation levels of cortical activities between the two hemispheres than in UL L or UL R contraction [UL L, r = 0.68 (SEM 0.05); UL R, r = 0.73 (SEM 0.03); BL, r = 0.76 (SEM 0.02)]. The UL R revealed a positive phase difference [5 (SEM 2) ms] when the maximal cross-correlation coefficient was shown and UL L showed a negative phase difference [5 (SEM 3) ms]. However, BL revealed a smaller phase difference [2 (SEM 1) ms] than that for UL. It was concluded that during maximal BL contraction cortical cellular activities in both hemispheres was more synchronized in amplitude and time course compared with maximal UL contractions. Our data suggested that central common drive existed between the right and left motor areas during the maximal BL handgrip contractions and the amplitude of potentials of both hemispheres was modified by the interhemispheric inhibition mechanism as reported in other studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allum JHJ, Hepp-Reymond M-C, Gysin R (1982) Cross-correlation analysis of interneuronal connectivity in the motor cortex of the monkey. Brain Res 231:325–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Asanuma H, Okuda O (1962) Effects of transcallosal volleys on pyramidal tract cell activity of cat. J Neurophysiol 25:198–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunia CHM, Van Den Bosch WEJ (1984)Movement-related slow potentials I. A contrast between finger and foot movements in right-handed subjects. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 57:515–527

    Google Scholar 

  • Davy NJ, Ellaway PH, Maskill DW, Anissimova NP, Rawlinson SR, Thomas HS (1994a) Variability in the amplitude of skeletal muscle responses to bilateral transcranial magnetic stimulation in man. J Physiol (Lond) 476:33P

    Google Scholar 

  • Davy NJ, Rawlinson SR, Maskill DW, Ellaway PH (1994b) Facilitation of a hand muscle response to transcranial magnetic stimulation of the brain in man during the period preceding a sample reaction task. J Physiol (Lond) 481:50–51P

    Google Scholar 

  • Deecke L, Scheid P, Kornhuber HH (1969) Distribution of readiness potentials, pre-motion positivity and motor potential of the human cerebral cortex preceding voluntary finger movements. Exp Brain Res 7:158–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Deecke L, Grözinger B, Kornhuber HH (1976) Voluntary finger movement in man: Cerebral potentials and theory. Biol Cybern 23:99–119

    Google Scholar 

  • De Luca CJ (1985) Control properties of motor units. J Exp Biol 115:125–136

    Google Scholar 

  • De Luca CJ, LeFever RS, McCue MP, Xenakis AP (1982a) Behavior of human motor units in different muscles during linearly varying contractions.J Physiol (Lond) 329:113–128

    Google Scholar 

  • De Luca CJ, LeFever RS, McCue MP, Xenakis AP (1982b) Control Scheme governing concurrently active human motor units during voluntary contractions. J Physiol (Lond) 329:129–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferbert A, Priori A, Rothwell JC, Day BL, Colebatch JG, Marsden CD (1992) Interhemispheric inhibition of the human motor cortex. J Physiol (Lond) 453:525–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerbrandt LK, Goff WR, Smith DB (1973) Distribution of the human average movement potential. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 34:461–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilden L, Vaughan HG Jr, Costa LD (1966) Summed human EEG potentials with voluntary movement. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 20:433–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry FM, Smith LE (1961) Simultaneous vs, separate bilateral muscular contractions in relation to neural overflow theory and neuromoter specificity. Res Q 32:42–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaluzny P, Wiesendanger M (1992) Feedforward postural stabilization in a distal bimanual task. Exp Brain Res 92:173–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitamura J, Shibasaki H, Kondo T (1993) A cortical slow potential is larger before an isolated movement of a single finger than simultaneous movement of two fingers. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 86:252–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Koh TJ, Grabiner MD, Clough CA (1993) Bilateral deficit is larger for step than for ramp isometric contractions. J Appl Physiol 74:1200–1205

    Google Scholar 

  • Kroll W (1965) Isometric cross-transfer effects under conditions of central facilitation. J Appl Physiol 20:297–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwan HC, Murphy JT, Wong YC (1987) Interaction between neurons in precentral cortical zones controlling different joints. Brain Res 400:259–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy JT, Kwan HC, Wong YC (1985a) Cross correlation studies in primate motor cortex: synaptic interaction and shared input. Can J Neurol Sci 12:11–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy JT, Kwan HC, Wong YC (1985b) Cross correlation studies in primate motor cortex: event related correlation. Can J Neurol Sci 12:24–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Neshige R, Luders H, Shibasaki H (1988) Recording of movement related cortical potentials from scalp and cortex in man. Brain 111:719–736

    Google Scholar 

  • Oda S, Moritani T (1994) Maximal isometric force and neural activity during bilateral and unilateral elbow flexion in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 69:240–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Oda S, Moritani T (1995a) Cross correlation study on the bilateral differences in fatigue during sustained maximal voluntary contraction. Eur J Appl Physiol 70:305–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Oda S, Moritani T (1995b) Movement-related cortical potentials during hand grip contractions with special reference to force and EMG bilateral deficit. Eur J Appl Physiol 72:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Oda S, Shibata M, Moritani T (1996) Force dependent changes in movement-related cortical potentials. J Electromyogr Kinesiol (in press)

  • Ohtsuki T (1981) Decrease in grip strength induced by simultaneous bilateral exertion with reference to finger strength. Ergonomics 24:37–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohtsuki T (1983) Decrease in human voluntary isometric arm strength induced by simultaneous bilateral exertion. Behav Brain Res 7:165–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters M (1985) Constraints in the performance of bimanual tasks and their expression in unskilled and skilled subjects. Q J Exp Psychol [A] Hum Exp Psychol 37:171–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters M (1994) Does handedness play a role in the coordination of bimanual movement? In: Swinnen S et al. (eds) Interlimb coordination. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 595–615

    Google Scholar 

  • Rektor I, Feve A, Buser P, Bathien N, Lamarche M (1994) Intracerebral recording of movement related readiness potentials: an exploration in epileptic patients. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 90:273–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothwell JC, Colebatch JG, Britton TC, Priori A, Thompson PD, Day BL, Marsden CD (1991) Physiological studies in a patient with mirror movements and agenesis of the corpus callosum. J Physiol (Lond) 438:34P

    Google Scholar 

  • Secher NH, Rørsgaard S, Secher O (1978) Contralateral influence on recruitment of curarized muscle fibres during maximal voluntary extension of the legs. Acta Physiol Scand 103:456–462

    Google Scholar 

  • Shibasaki H, Barrett G, Halliday E, Halliday AM (1980) Components of the movement-related cortical potential and the scalp topography. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 49:213–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Shibata M, Oda S, Moritani T (1996) The relationships between movement-related cortical potentials and motor unit activity during muscle contraction. J Electromyogr Kinesiol (in press)

  • Singh J, Knight RT (1990) Frontal lobe contribution to voluntary movements in humans. Brain Res 531:45–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor MG (1978) Bereitschaftspotential during the acquisition of a skilled motor task. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 45:568–576

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandervoot AA, Sale DG, Moroz J (1984) Comparison of motor unit activation during unilateral and bilateral leg extension. J Appl Physiol 56:46–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Walter CB, Swinnen SP (1990) Asymmetric interlimb interference during the performance of a dynamic bimanual task. Brain Cogn 14:185–200

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oda, S., Moritani, T. Cross-correlation studies of movement-related cortical potentials during unilateral and bilateral muscle contractions in humans. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 74, 29–35 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00376491

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00376491

Key words

Navigation