Movement-related potentials accompanying unilateral finger movements with special reference to rate of force development.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between force and rate of force development with electroencephalogram correlates. The primary question was whether the different components of movement related potentials (MRPs) were related to specific properties of force output while subjects performed index finger force production tasks. The peak force and rate of force development (e.g., a product of peak force over time-to-peak force) were manipulated, and the effects of these manipulations on components of MRPs preceding and accompanying force production tasks were examined. The hypothesis was that the rate of force development, rather than level of force itself, would directly influence the later component of MRPs. Consistent with this hypothesis was the finding that the amplitudes of MRP components preceding (MP) and accompanying (MMP, MTP) finger force production movements were significantly correlated with force development rate.