Sensory-Motor Systems (SMS) Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Exp Brain Res. 2010 May;203(1):181-91. doi: 10.1007/s00221-010-2223-5. Epub 2010 Apr 3.
Human gait is a complex process in the central nervous system that results from the integrity of various mechanisms, including different cortical and subcortical structures. In the present study, we investigated cortical activity during lower limb movement using EEG. Assisted by a dynamic tilt table, all subjects performed standardized stepping movements in an upright position. Source localization of the movement-related potential in relation to spontaneous EEG showed activity in brain regions classically associated with human gait such as the primary motor cortex, the premotor cortex, the supplementary motor cortex, the cingulate cortex, the primary somatosensory cortex and the somatosensory association cortex. Further, we observed a task-related power decrease in the alpha and beta frequency band at electrodes overlying the leg motor area. A temporal activation and deactivation of the involved brain regions as well as the chronological sequence of the movement-related potential could be mapped to specific phases of the gait-like leg movement. We showed that most cortical capacity is needed for changing the direction between the flexion and extension phase. An enhanced understanding of the human gait will provide a basis to improve applications in the field of neurorehabilitation and brain-computer interfaces.
人类步态是中枢神经系统的一个复杂过程，它源于各种机制的完整性，包括不同的皮质和皮质下结构。在本研究中，我们使用 EEG 研究了下肢运动时的皮质活动。在动态倾斜台的辅助下，所有受试者都在直立位置进行了标准化的踏步运动。与自发 EEG 相关的运动相关电位的源定位显示，在与人类步态相关的大脑区域（如初级运动皮层、运动前皮层、辅助运动皮层、扣带皮层、初级体感皮层和体感联合皮层）有活动。此外，我们还观察到，在覆盖腿部运动区域的电极上，与任务相关的 alpha 和 beta 频带的功率下降。所涉及的大脑区域的激活和失活以及运动相关电位的时间顺序可以映射到类似步态的腿部运动的特定阶段。我们表明，改变屈伸相位之间的方向需要大部分皮质容量。对人类步态的深入了解将为神经康复和脑机接口领域的应用提供基础。
