Description: Continous theta-burst stimulation over the dorsal premotor cortex interferes with associative learning during object lifting

This title appears in the Scientific Report : 2009

Continous theta-burst stimulation over the dorsal premotor cortex interferes with associative learning during object lifting

When lifting objects of different mass, humans scale grip force according to the expected mass. In this context, humans are able to associate a sensory cue, such as a colour, to a particular mass of an object and link this association to the grip forces necessary for lifting. Here, we study the role...

Personal Name(s):	Nowak, D. A.
	Berner, J. / Herrnberger, B / Kammer, T. / Grön, G. / Schönfeldt-Lecuona, C.
Contributing Institute:	Kognitive Neurowissenschaften; INM-3
Published in:	Cortex, 45 (2009) S. 473
Imprint:	Paris Elsevier Masson 2009
Physical Description:	473
DOI:	10.1016/j.cortex.2007.11.010
PubMed ID:	18400218
Document Type:	Journal Article
Research Program:	Funktion und Dysfunktion des Nervensystems
Series Title:	Cortex 45
Subject (ZB):	Adaptation, Physiological Adaptation, Psychological Adult Association Learning: physiology Female Frontal Lobe: physiology Functional Laterality: physiology Hand Strength: physiology Humans Intention Kinesthesis: physiology Lifting Male Motor Cortex: physiology Motor Skills: physiology Occipital Lobe: physiology Reference Values Set (Psychology) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation J Theta-burst stimulation Dorsal premotor area Predictive force control Precision grip Visuo-motor association
	Publikationsportal JuSER

Please use the identifier: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2007.11.010 in citations.

When lifting objects of different mass, humans scale grip force according to the expected mass. In this context, humans are able to associate a sensory cue, such as a colour, to a particular mass of an object and link this association to the grip forces necessary for lifting. Here, we study the role of the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) in setting-up an association between a colour cue and a particular mass to be lifted. Healthy right-handed subjects used a precision grip between the index finger and thumb to lift two different masses. Colour cues provided information about which of the two masses subjects would have to lift. Subjects first performed a series of lifts with the right hand to establish a stable association between a colour cue and a mass, followed by 20sec of continuous high frequency repetitive trancranial magnetic stimulation using a recently developed protocol (continuous theta-burst stimulation, cTBS) over (i) the left primary motor cortex, (ii) the left PMd and (iii) the left occipital cortex to be commenced by another series of lifts with either the right or left hand. cTBS over the PMd, but not over the primary motor cortex or O1, disrupted the predictive scaling of isometric finger forces based on colour cues, irrespective of whether the right or left hand performed the lifts after the stimulation. Our data highlight the role of the PMd to generalize and maintain associative memory processes relevant for predictive control of grip forces during object manipulation.