Cortical modulations increase in early sessions with brain-machine interface.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:During planning and execution of reaching movements, the activity of cortical motor neurons is modulated by a diversity of motor, sensory, and cognitive signals. Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) extract part of these modulations to directly control artificial actuators. However, cortical modulations that emerge in the novel context of operating the BMI are poorly understood. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Here we analyzed the changes in neuronal modulations that occurred in different cortical motor areas as monkeys learned to use a BMI to control reaching movements. Using spike-train analysis methods we demonstrate that the modulations of the firing-rates of cortical neurons increased abruptly after the monkeys started operating the BMI. Regression analysis revealed that these en

SUBMITTER: Zacksenhouse M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1919433 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature