Comparing brain activation associated with isolated upper and lower limb movement across corresponding joints

Andreas R. Luft, Gerald V. Smith, Larry Forrester, Jill Whitall, Richard F. Macko, Till Karsten Hauser, Andrew P. Goldberg, Daniel F. Hanley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

130 Scopus citations

Abstract

It was shown recently that functional activation across brain motor areas during locomotion and foot movements are similar but differ substantially from activation related to upper extremity movement (Miyai [2001]: Neuroimage 14:1186-1192). The activation pattern may be a function of the behavioral context of the movement rather than of its mechanical properties. We compare motor system activation patterns associated with isolated single-joint movement of corresponding joints in arm and leg carried out in equal frequency and range. Eleven healthy volunteers underwent BOLD-weighted fMRI while performing repetitive elbow or knee extension/flexion. To relate elbow and knee activation to the well-described patterns of finger movement, serial finger-to-thumb opposition was assessed in addition. After identifying task-related voxels using statistical parametric mapping, activation was measured in five regions of interest (ROI; primary motor [M1] and somatosensory cortex [S1], premotor cortex, supplementary motor area [SMA] divided into preSMA and SMA-proper, and cerebellum). Differences in the degree of activation across ROIs were found between elbow and knee movement. SMA-proper activation was prominent for knee, but almost absent for elbow movement (P < 0.05); finger movement produced small but constant SMA-proper activation. Ipsilateral M1 activation was detected during knee and finger movement, but was absent for the elbow task (P < 0.05). Knee movement showed less lateralization in M1 and S1 than other tasks (P < 0.05). The data demonstrate that central motor structures contribute differently to isolated elbow and knee movement. Activation during knee movement shows similarities to gait-related activation patterns.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)131-140
Number of pages10
JournalHuman Brain Mapping
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2002

Keywords

  • Brain activation
  • Cerebellum
  • Functional imaging
  • Premotor cortex
  • Sensorimotor cortex
  • Supplementary motor area

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anatomy
  • Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Comparing brain activation associated with isolated upper and lower limb movement across corresponding joints'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this