Neural dynamics in motor preparation: From phase-mediated global computation to amplitude-mediated local computation

Oscillatory activity plays a critical role in the brain. Here, we illustrate the dynamics of neural oscillations in the motor system of the brain. We used a non-directional cue to instruct participants to prepare a motor response with either the left or the right hand and recorded electroencephalography during the preparation of the response. Consistent with previous findings, the amplitude of alpha-band (8-14 Hz) oscillations significantly decreased over the motor region contralateral to the hand prepared for the response. Prior to this decrease, there were a number of inter-regional phase synchronies at lower frequencies (2-4 Hz; delta band). Cross-frequency coupling was quantified to further explore the direct link between alpha amplitudes and delta synchrony. The cross-frequency coupling of showed response-specific modulation, whereby the motor region contralateral to the preparation hand exhibited an increase in coupling relative to the baseline. The amplitude of alpha oscillations had an unpreferred and a preferred delta phase, in which the amplitude was modulated negatively and positively, respectively. Given the amplitude of alpha-band oscillations decreased over the analyzed period, the alpha amplitude might be down-regulated by the phase-amplitude coupling, although we do not have direct evidence for that. Taken together, these results show global-to-local computation in the motor system, which started from inter-regional delta phase synchrony and ended at an effector-specific decrease in the amplitude of alpha-band oscillations, with phase-amplitude coupling connecting both computations.