Abstract
The amplitude of beta oscillations over motor cortical regions (β power; 13-30 Hz) is used as a marker of motor function for various applications, including bradykinesia assessment in Parkinson’s disease and brain-computer interface control. However, the impact of β power changes on movement execution remains unclear, as β power has been alternately associated with motor vigor and motor adaptation. The present study aimed to address this issue through two experiments (EXP1 and EXP2, 60 participants in total). In each experiment, participants were trained to down- and up-regulate β power recorded over motor regions with electroencephalography, through real-time feedback, before executing a motor task (force task in EXP1, speed task in EXP2) in order to probe the effects of β power changes on motor function. In EXP1, downregulation of β power was associated with increased force exertion, but it did not significantly affect movement time nor reaction time. In EXP2, downregulation of β power was associated with faster movements when instructed to move quickly and, conversely, slower movements when instructed to move slowly. Thus, the impact of online changes in β power on motor execution specifically relied on task constraints, with a negative linear relationship linking β power and motor adaptation. These findings demonstrate that β power better predicts motor adaptation than strength of motor output, thereby highlighting the importance of considering environmental constraints for β power-based applications.
Authors
Pierrieau, E.,, C.D., Plantey--Veux, A., Guerrini, C., Lau, B., Pillette, L., George,§, Jeunet-Kelway, N. &., & C.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-08465-2