Assessment of sensorimotor cortical representation asymmetries and motor skills in violin players

Abstract

As a model for use-dependent plasticity, the brains of professional musicians have been extensively studied to examine structural and functional adaptation to unique requirements of skilled performance. Here we provide a combination of data on motor performance and hand representation in the primary motor and somatosensory cortex of professional violin players, with the aim of assessing possible behavioural consequences of sensorimotor cortical asymmetries. We studied 15 healthy right-handed professional violin players and 35 healthy nonmusician controls. Motor and somatosensory cortex asymmetry was assessed by recording the motor output map after transcranial magnetic stimulation from a small hand muscle, and by dipole source localization of somatosensory evoked potentials after electrical stimulation of the median and ulnar nerves. Motor performance was examined using a series of standardized motor tasks covering different aspects of hand function. Violin players showed a significant right-larger-than-left asymmetry of the motor and somatosensory cortex, whereas nonmusician controls showed no significant interhemispheric difference. The amount of asymmetry in the motor and somatosensory cortices of musicians was significantly correlated. At the behavioural level, motor performance did not significantly differ between musicians and nonmusicians. The results support a use-dependent enlargement of the left hand representation in the sensorimotor cortex of violin players. However, these cortical asymmetries were not paralleled by accompanying altered asymmetries at a behavioural level, suggesting that the reorganisation might be task-specific and does not lead to improved motor abilities in general.

Altered Finger Representations in Sensorimotor Cortex of Musicians with Focal Dystonia: Precentral Cortex

“…Any significant differences in location from normal will thus not result from identifying the wrong cluster, as selection of any other cluster would result in an even greater disparity. This conservative approach is consistent with the results of studies on plasticity in normal musicians, which have demonstrated enlarged finger representations unaccompanied by overt changes in regional topography (Schwenkreis et al 2007).…”

Short-term limb immobilization affects cognitive motor processes.

“…In conclusion, the sensorimotor system quickly adapts to an imposed low level of physical activity, as it does following motor training (Pascual-Leone & Torres, 1993;Schwenkreis et al, 2007), except that the opposite happens. Even a brief period of sensorimotor deprivation can induce some deficits in sensorimotor representations and be the origin of motor performance deteriorations.…”

Time, frequency and volumetric differences of high-frequency neuromagnetic oscillation between left and right somatosensory cortices

“…The effect of hemispheric asymmetries in the somatosensory cortex on cognitive function has also been evaluated in a study conducted on professional musicians (Schwenkreis et al, 2007). Schwenkreis and colleagues evaluated the potential use-dependent plasticity of the brain in experienced violinists using transcranial magnetic stimulation.…”

“…Despite these few number of investigations, the hemispherical asymmetries in the somatosensory cortex have been linked to various important and interesting cognitive functions. In fact, hemispheric asymmetries have been linked to usedependent plasticity in musicians (Schwenkreis et al, 2007), representations of limbs in patient's in recovery after stroke (Tecchio et al, 2007), unique electrical activity patterns during sleep poststimulation (Kattler et al, 1994), depressive personality traits (Biondi et al, 1993), and pain syndromes (Koekina et al, 1988). However, our knowledge of the underlying differences leading to the hemispheric asymmetry of the somatosensory system remains incomplete.…”