Aims. The brain and the heart continuously interact to optimize adaptive responses to the environment, including motor preparation, stop/go signal processing and motor execution. However, such interactions have not been systematically studied so far. Here we investigated Heartbeat Evoked Potential (HEP) modulations during different phases of motor responses and their relationships with co-occurring motor event-related potentials: the Bereitschaftspotential (BP) occurring during motor preparation, and the prefrontal Positive1 (pP1) associated to sensorimotor processing of go signals. We hypothesized that brain-heart interactions might adapt to the context, that could be either reactive (inhibitory) or proactive. Methods We used electroencephalography to measure HEP, BP and pP1 components. Participants performed two Go/No-Go tasks in which the different percentages of go and no-go trials created either a proactive or a reactive context. Results Results showed that HEP increases the closer we get to the motor responses. Moreover, HEP differently modulates according to the context. Specifically, the modulation is stronger in the reactive (inhibitory) than in the proactive context. Lastly, only in the proactive context, HEPs falling during motor preparation and sensorimotor processing of go signals correlate with the co-occurring BP and pP1 components, respectively. Conclusion Our findings are the first to empirically demonstrate context-dependent modulations of HEPs directly linked to different phases of motor responses.
Brain-heart interactions during motor responses in reactive and proactive contexts
Mussini E.Primo
;Perrucci M. G.Secondo
;Zaccaro A.;Costantini M.Penultimo
;Ferri F.Ultimo
2022-01-01
Abstract
Aims. The brain and the heart continuously interact to optimize adaptive responses to the environment, including motor preparation, stop/go signal processing and motor execution. However, such interactions have not been systematically studied so far. Here we investigated Heartbeat Evoked Potential (HEP) modulations during different phases of motor responses and their relationships with co-occurring motor event-related potentials: the Bereitschaftspotential (BP) occurring during motor preparation, and the prefrontal Positive1 (pP1) associated to sensorimotor processing of go signals. We hypothesized that brain-heart interactions might adapt to the context, that could be either reactive (inhibitory) or proactive. Methods We used electroencephalography to measure HEP, BP and pP1 components. Participants performed two Go/No-Go tasks in which the different percentages of go and no-go trials created either a proactive or a reactive context. Results Results showed that HEP increases the closer we get to the motor responses. Moreover, HEP differently modulates according to the context. Specifically, the modulation is stronger in the reactive (inhibitory) than in the proactive context. Lastly, only in the proactive context, HEPs falling during motor preparation and sensorimotor processing of go signals correlate with the co-occurring BP and pP1 components, respectively. Conclusion Our findings are the first to empirically demonstrate context-dependent modulations of HEPs directly linked to different phases of motor responses.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
