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Motor training modulates intracortical inhibitory dynamics in motor cortex during movement preparation

Dupont-Hadwen, J; Bestmann, S; Stagg, CJ; (2019) Motor training modulates intracortical inhibitory dynamics in motor cortex during movement preparation. Brain Stimulation , 12 (2) pp. 300-308. 10.1016/j.brs.2018.11.002. Green open access

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The primary motor cortex (M1) has a vital role to play in the learning of novel motor skills. However, the physiological changes underpinning this learning, particularly in terms of dynamic changes during movement preparation, are incompletely understood. In particular, a substantial decrease in resting gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) activity, i.e. a release of resting inhibition, is seen within M1 as a subject prepares to move. Although there is evidence that a decrease in resting inhibition occurs within M1 during motor learning it is not known whether the pre-movement "release" of GABAergic inhibition is modulated during skill acquisition. OBJECTIVE: Here, we investigated changes in pre-movement GABAergic inhibitory "release" during training on a motor skill task. METHODS: We studied GABAA activity using paired-pulse TMS (Short-Interval Intracortical Inhibition (SICI)) during training on a ballistic thumb abduction task, both at rest and at two time-points during movement preparation. RESULTS: Improvement in task performance was related to a later, steeper, release of inhibition during the movement preparation phase. Specifically, subjects who showed greater improvement in the task in the early stages of training showed a reduced level of GABAergic release immediately prior to movement compared with those who improved less. Later in training, subjects who performed better showed a reduction in GABAergic release early in movement preparation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that motor training is associated with maintained inhibition in motor cortex during movement preparation.

Type: Article
Title: Motor training modulates intracortical inhibitory dynamics in motor cortex during movement preparation
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2018.11.002
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2018.11.002
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: GABA, Motor cortex, Motor training, Movement preparation, Plasticity, Transcranial magnetic stimulation
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology > Clinical and Movement Neurosciences
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10067313
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