Advances in Neural Signal Processing
26
respectively. The posterior cingulate cortex is a region involved in directing attention toward internal or external cognition [52]. In our case, we observed a decrease
of alpha during vertical movement. This result is in line with our hypothesis about
the increase of external sensory input during Peak1 in vertical movement and
the consequent inhibition in order to reallocate attention to the execution of the
movement. In Peak2 we observed higher alpha activity during vertical compared to
diagonal movement execution. The inferior parietal cortex is classically involved in
spatial attention (for a review, see [53]), body perception [54], and motor functions
[55]. Fu et al. [56] suggested that increase in alpha power over the inferior parietal
cortex could underlie integration of sensory cues in order to redirect attention. This
explanation fits well with our hypothesis of attentional fluctuations related to the
end of vertical movements. In fact as already hypothesized before, the selective
increase in alpha at the end of the movement could represent a re-engagement
of attention toward sensorimotor information in order to perform correctly the
next trial.
5. Conclusions
Results from time-frequency analysis and source localization converge to support our initial hypothesis. We observed that diagonal movements increase theta
activity over the middle frontal gyrus during the first stage of movement execution, suggesting that they are indeed more complex than vertical movements. This
complexity could be reflected in more computational resources being allocated at
the start of the movement and to a reduced focus on the external environment during the whole performance. Moreover, the higher complexity of diagonal movement
is addressed also by the biphasic alpha activity that involves the posterior cingulate
cortex and inferior parietal lobule reflecting attentional fluctuations on internal vs.
external environment during the execution of vertical movements.
Taken together, these results suggest that diagonal movements have indeed
an effect on the ability to inhibit external input and to induce a mental mindset
oriented to an increase in internalized attention.
Since theta has been related to a great variety of cognitive functions, one of
our future aims is to understand whether motor training, which involves diagonal
movement, could produce a reliable and prolonged enhancement of theta activity in
order to enhance cognitive functioning on a long time scale.
We intend to examine whether the integrative role of theta could help healthy
cognitive and motor development or be helpful in reducing symptoms of psychiatric disease based on psychological fragmentation, such as post-traumatic stress
disorder or schizophrenia.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of
interest.
26
respectively. The posterior cingulate cortex is a region involved in directing attention toward internal or external cognition [52]. In our case, we observed a decrease
of alpha during vertical movement. This result is in line with our hypothesis about
the increase of external sensory input during Peak1 in vertical movement and
the consequent inhibition in order to reallocate attention to the execution of the
movement. In Peak2 we observed higher alpha activity during vertical compared to
diagonal movement execution. The inferior parietal cortex is classically involved in
spatial attention (for a review, see [53]), body perception [54], and motor functions
[55]. Fu et al. [56] suggested that increase in alpha power over the inferior parietal
cortex could underlie integration of sensory cues in order to redirect attention. This
explanation fits well with our hypothesis of attentional fluctuations related to the
end of vertical movements. In fact as already hypothesized before, the selective
increase in alpha at the end of the movement could represent a re-engagement
of attention toward sensorimotor information in order to perform correctly the
next trial.
5. Conclusions
Results from time-frequency analysis and source localization converge to support our initial hypothesis. We observed that diagonal movements increase theta
activity over the middle frontal gyrus during the first stage of movement execution, suggesting that they are indeed more complex than vertical movements. This
complexity could be reflected in more computational resources being allocated at
the start of the movement and to a reduced focus on the external environment during the whole performance. Moreover, the higher complexity of diagonal movement
is addressed also by the biphasic alpha activity that involves the posterior cingulate
cortex and inferior parietal lobule reflecting attentional fluctuations on internal vs.
external environment during the execution of vertical movements.
Taken together, these results suggest that diagonal movements have indeed
an effect on the ability to inhibit external input and to induce a mental mindset
oriented to an increase in internalized attention.
Since theta has been related to a great variety of cognitive functions, one of
our future aims is to understand whether motor training, which involves diagonal
movement, could produce a reliable and prolonged enhancement of theta activity in
order to enhance cognitive functioning on a long time scale.
We intend to examine whether the integrative role of theta could help healthy
cognitive and motor development or be helpful in reducing symptoms of psychiatric disease based on psychological fragmentation, such as post-traumatic stress
disorder or schizophrenia.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of
interest.