Non-selective inhibition of inappropriate motor-tendencies during response-conflict by a fronto-subthalamic mechanism

Jan R Wessel; Darcy A Waller; Jeremy D W Greenlee

doi:10.7554/eLife.42959

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Non-selective inhibition of inappropriate motor-tendencies during response-conflict by a fronto-subthalamic mechanism

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Non-selective inhibition of inappropriate motor-tendencies during response-conflict by a fronto-subthalamic mechanism

Jan R Wessel, Darcy A Waller and Jeremy D W Greenlee

eLife, Vol.8, e42959

05/07/2019

DOI: 10.7554/eLife.42959

PMCID: PMC6533064

PMID: 31063130

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https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.42959View

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Abstract

To effectively interact with their environment, humans must often select actions from multiple incompatible options. Existing theories propose that during motoric response-conflict, inappropriate motor activity is actively (and perhaps non-selectively) suppressed by an inhibitory fronto-basal ganglia mechanism. We here tested this theory across three experiments. First, using scalp-EEG, we found that both outright action-stopping and response-conflict during action-selection invoke low-frequency activity of a common fronto-central source, whose activity relates to trial-by-trial behavioral indices of inhibition in both tasks. Second, using simultaneous intracranial recordings from the basal ganglia and motor cortex, we found that response-conflict increases the influence of the subthalamic nucleus on M1-representations of incorrect response-tendencies. Finally, using transcranial magnetic stimulation, we found that during the same time period when conflict-related STN-to-M1 communication is increased, cortico-spinal excitability is broadly suppressed. Together, these findings demonstrate that fronto-basal ganglia networks buttress action-selection under response-conflict by rapidly and non-selectively net-inhibiting inappropriate motor tendencies.

Electroencephalography

Psychomotor Performance

Motor Cortex - physiology

Cortical Excitability

Humans

Male

Healthy Volunteers

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Young Adult

Subthalamic Nucleus - physiology

Adult

Female

Pyramidal Tracts - physiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Non-selective inhibition of inappropriate motor-tendencies during response-conflict by a fronto-subthalamic mechanism
Creators: Jan R Wessel - Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States
Darcy A Waller - Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States
Jeremy D W Greenlee - Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: eLife, Vol.8, e42959
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.42959
PMID: 31063130
PMCID: PMC6533064
NLM abbreviation: Elife
ISSN: 2050-084X
eISSN: 2050-084X
Publisher: England
Grant note: R01 NS102201 / NINDS NIH HHS T32 GM108540 / NIGMS NIH HHS CAREER 1752355 / National Science Foundation
Language: English
Date published: 05/07/2019
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Neurology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neurosurgery; Otolaryngology
Record Identifier: 9984040356702771

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