Brain oxygenation patterns during the execution of tool use demonstration, tool use pantomime, and body-part-as-object tool use

Helmich, Ingo; Holle, Henning; Rein, Robert; Lausberg, Hedda

Abstract

© 2015 Elsevier B.V. Divergent findings exist whether left and right hemispheric pre- and postcentral cortices contribute to the production of tool use related hand movements. In order to clarify the neural substrates of tool use demonstrations with tool in hand, tool use pantomimes without tool in hand, and body-part-as-object presentations of tool use (BPO) in a naturalistic mode of execution, we applied functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) in twenty-three right-handed participants. Functional NIRS techniques allow for the investigation of brain oxygenation during the execution of complex hand movements with an unlimited movement range. Brain oxygenation patterns were retrieved from 16 channels of measurement above pre- and postcentral cortices of each hemisphere. The results showed that tool use demonstration with tool in hand leads to increased oxygenation as compared to tool use pantomimes in the left hemispheric somatosensory gyrus. Left hand executions of the demonstration of tool use, pantomime of tool use, and BPO of tool use led to increased oxygenation in the premotor and somatosensory cortices of the left hemisphere as compared to right hand executions of either condition. The results indicate that the premotor and somatosensory cortices of the left hemisphere constitute relevant brain structures for tool related hand movement production when using the left hand, whereas the somatosensory cortex of the left hemisphere seems to provide specific mental representations when performing tool use demonstrations with the tool in hand.

Citation

Helmich, I., Holle, H., Rein, R., & Lausberg, H. (2015). Brain oxygenation patterns during the execution of tool use demonstration, tool use pantomime, and body-part-as-object tool use. International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology, 96(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2015.03.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 2, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Mar 6, 2015
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Deposit Date: Apr 14, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 14, 2015
• Journal: International journal of psychophysiology
• Print ISSN: 0167-8760
• Electronic ISSN: 1872-7697
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 96
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-7
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2015.03.001
• Keywords: Praxis, fNIRS, Tool use demonstration, Tool use pantomime, Tool use BPO, Hemispheric specialization
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/372445
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167876015001087
• Additional Information: Author's accepted manuscript of article published in International journal of psychophysiology, 2015, v.96.