Sensorimotor cortical response during motion reflecting audiovisual stimulation: evidence from fractal EEG analysis

Abstract

Sensorimotor activity in response to motion reflecting audiovisual titillation is studied in this article. EEG recordings, and especially the Mu-rhythm over the sensorimotor cortex (C3, CZ, and C4 electrodes), were acquired and explored. An experiment was designed to provide auditory (Modest Mussorgsky's "Promenade" theme) and visual (synchronized human figure walking) stimuli to advanced music students (AMS) and non-musicians (NM) as a control subject group. EEG signals were analyzed using fractal dimension (FD) estimation (Higuchi's, Katz's and Petrosian's algorithms) and statistical methods. Experimental results from the midline electrode (CZ) based on the Higuchi method showed significant differences between the AMS and the NM groups, with the former displaying substantial sensorimotor response during auditory stimulation and stronger correlation with the acoustic stimulus than the latter. This observation was linked to mirror neuron system activity, a neurological mechanism that allows trained musicians to detect action-related meanings underlying the structural patterns in musical excerpts. Contrarily, the response of AMS and NM converged during audiovisual stimulation due to the dominant presence of human-like motion in the visual stimulus. These findings shed light upon music perception aspects, exhibiting the potential of FD to respond to different states of cortical activity.

Revealing spatio-spectral electroencephalographic dynamics of musical mode and tempo perception by independent component analysis

“…Our study showed that fast-tempo music excerpts induced a significant suppression in the alpha power over the right sensorimotor cortex, as compared to slow ones (Figure 3C). The alpha activity projected from the sensorimotor region was generally referred to as the mu rhythm, which has a well-established role in motor imagery [50] and engaged mirror neuron system during music listening [51]. The alpha suppression further reflects the engagement of sensory input or motor preparation/production [52].…”

Neurofeedback training with a motor imagery-based BCI: neurocognitive improvements and EEG changes in the elderly

“…Regarding beta frequency band (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30), different studies reported correlation between this frequency range and cognitive functions, such as language and memory [4,26,42].…”

“…Sensorimotor rhythms are activated in central brain region [22,45]. Hence, EEG was recorded using 8 active electrodes (F3, F4, T7, C3, Cz, C4, T8, and Pz) placed in an elastic cap according to the international 10-20 system [25].…”

“…These endogenous BCI systems depend on the user's ability to control the amplitude in a specific frequency band of the EEG recorded over a particular cortical area [45]. MI-BCI is based on the generation of event-related desynchronization (ERD) and event-related synchronization (ERS) in alpha (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13) and beta (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) frequency bands of the EEG [20,33]. These events are related to sensorimotor rhythms (SMR).…”

The utility of fractal analysis in clinical neuroscience

“…The investigators utilized Higuchi's, Katz's, and Petrosian's algorithms to calculate the FD. Each study enrolled 10 musicians and 10 non-musicians, and the studies concluded that FD can respond to changes in cortical activity (Hadjidimitriou et al, 2010(Hadjidimitriou et al, , 2011.…”