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Bimanual coupling is modulated in task-specific way through left frontocentral brain networks
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  • Julian Rudisch,
  • Stephanie Fröhlich,
  • Nils Pixa,
  • Dieter Kutz,
  • Claudia Voelcker-Rehage
Julian Rudisch
University of Münster

Corresponding Author:julian.rudisch@uni-muenster.de

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Stephanie Fröhlich
University of Münster
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Nils Pixa
University of Münster
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Dieter Kutz
University of Münster
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Claudia Voelcker-Rehage
University of Münster
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Abstract

When performing bimanual tasks, hands are typically not controlled individually but rather as a coupled system to achieve high spatiotemporal coordination. On a brain level, intra- and interhemispheric connections networks that control the left and right hand are necessary to exchange information between hemispheres and to couple movements. Behaviorally, coupling is, however, highly task-specific requiring, for example, to maintain a specific relative phase in cyclic tasks (e.g., in- or antiphase) or to perform a role differentiated task where one hand is modulating and the other hands is stabilizing and needs to be kept as still as possible (e.g., holding a notepad and writing on it). In this study, we used electroencephalography to investigate functional brain network characteristics (task-related activation and connectivity) in bimanual force-control tasks with different coordination modes: inphase, antiphase and role-differentiated with the left- or right-hand stabilizing and the other hand manipulating. We aimed to examine i) how network characteristics differ with respect to the coordination mode and ii) how they are related to the performance. Results showed, task-related differences in the overall activation and connectivity, but no task-specific patterns (i.e., different regions being more active or integrated during some tasks than others). We did show, however, that the strength of bimanual coupling is modulated in a task-specific way through networks including C3, FC3 and F3 electrodes. Results suggest that interhemispheric crosstalk for bimanual coordination is modulated in a task-specific way through left frontocentral networks.
06 Dec 2022Submitted to European Journal of Neuroscience
08 Dec 2022Submission Checks Completed
08 Dec 2022Assigned to Editor
08 Dec 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 Dec 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
11 Jan 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
06 Apr 20231st Revision Received
07 Apr 2023Submission Checks Completed
07 Apr 2023Assigned to Editor
07 Apr 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Apr 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
08 May 20232nd Revision Received
08 May 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
08 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
08 May 2023Assigned to Editor
10 May 2023Editorial Decision: Accept