Theta Synchrony Is Increased near Neural Populations That Are Active When Initiating Instructed Movement

Ashwin G. Ramayya, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 ashwinramayya@gmail.com.
Andrew I. Yang, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Vivek P. Buch, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
John F. Burke, Department of Neurosurgery, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143.
Andrew G. Richardson, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Cameron Brandon, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Joel M. Stein, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Kathryn A. Davis, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
H Isaac Chen, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Alexander Proekt, Department of Anesthesiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Max B. Kelz, Department of Anesthesiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Brian Litt, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Joshua I. Gold, Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Timothy H. Lucas, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Theta oscillations (3-8 Hz) in the human brain have been linked to perception, cognitive control, and spatial memory, but their relation to the motor system is less clear. We tested the hypothesis that theta oscillations coordinate distributed behaviorally relevant neural representations during movement using intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) recordings from nine patients ( = 490 electrodes) as they performed a simple instructed movement task. Using high frequency activity (HFA; 70-200 Hz) as a marker of local spiking activity, we identified electrodes that were positioned near neural populations that showed increased activity during instruction and movement. We found that theta synchrony was widespread throughout the brain but was increased near regions that showed movement-related increases in neural activity. These results support the view that theta oscillations represent a general property of brain activity that may also play a specific role in coordinating widespread neural activity when initiating voluntary movement.

Medical Subject Headings

Brain; Electroencephalography; Humans; Movement; Spatial Memory; Theta Rhythm

Publication Date

1-1-2021

Publication Title

eNeuro

E-ISSN

2373-2822

Volume

8

Issue

1

PubMed ID

33355232

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1523/ENEURO.0252-20.2020

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