The cortical activation pattern during bilateral arm raising movements

• Published in: Neural regeneration research 2017-02, Vol.12 (2), p.317-320
• Main Authors: Jang, Sung Ho, Seo, Jung Pyo, Lee, Seung-Hyun, Jin, Sang-Hyun, Yeo, Sang Seok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arm; Data analysis; Frontal lobes; Health aspects; Imaging in Neural Regeneration; Movement (Physiology); Near-infrared spectroscopy; nerve regeneration; neuronal activation; bilateral arm raising; functional NIRS; motor control; corticospinal tract; corticoreticulospinal tract; neural regeneration; Physical therapy; Rehabilitation; Software; Spasticity; Traumatic brain injury; 大脑皮质; 氧合血红蛋白; 激活; 辅助运动区; 运动皮层; 近红外光谱; 长期应用; 额叶皮层
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.200817

Bilateral arm raising movements have been used in brain rehabilitation for a long time. However, no study has been reported on the effect of these movements on the cerebral cortex. In this study, using functional near infrared spectroscopy（f NIRS）, we attempted to investigate cortical activation generated during bilateral arm raising movements. Ten normal subjects were recruited for this study. f NIRS was performed using an f NIRS system with 49 channels. Bilateral arm raising movements were performed in sitting position at the rate of 0.5 Hz. We measured values of oxyhemoglobin and total hemoglobin in five regions of interest： the primary sensorimotor cortex, premotor cortex, supplementary motor area, prefrontal cortex, and posterior parietal cortex. During performance of bilateral arm raising movements, oxyhemoglobin and total hemoglobin values in the primary sensorimotor cortex, premotor cortex, supplementary motor area, and prefrontal cortex were similar, but higher in these regions than those in the prefrontal cortex. We observed activation of the arm somatotopic areas of the primary sensorimotor cortex and premotor cortex in both hemispheres during bilateral arm raising movements. According to this result, bilateral arm raising movements appeared to induce large-scale neuronal activation and therefore arm raising movements would be good exercise for recovery of brain functions.