A critical review of physiological and clinical aspects of movement related brain macropotentials in humans.

The methodological, developmental and clinical aspects of movement related brain macropotentials (MRBMs) are reviewed. The physiological differences between unskilled and skilled movements are described and the importance of interactive paradigms in studying movement organization from childhood to adulthood is emphasized. The developmental characteristics of the MRBMs in 119 normal males using a skilled motor perceptual task are presented together with a few clinical applications. This test has been performed by children with learning disabilities, boys with Down syndrome, subjects with chronic schizophrenia and patients with Parkinson syndrome. The results of the MRBMs are discussed for their relevance for our understanding of the cognitive processes and for their therapeutic implications.