Interhemispheric control of unilateral movement

Neural Plast. 2012:2012:627816. doi: 10.1155/2012/627816. Epub 2012 Dec 6.

Abstract

To perform strictly unilateral movements, the brain relies on a large cortical and subcortical network. This network enables healthy adults to perform complex unimanual motor tasks without the activation of contralateral muscles. However, mirror movements (involuntary movements in ipsilateral muscles that can accompany intended movement) can be seen in healthy individuals if a task is complex or fatiguing, in childhood, and with increasing age. Lateralization of movement depends on complex interhemispheric communication between cortical (i.e., dorsal premotor cortex, supplementary motor area) and subcortical (i.e., basal ganglia) areas, probably coursing through the corpus callosum (CC). Here, we will focus on transcallosal interhemispheric inhibition (IHI), which facilitates complex unilateral movements and appears to play an important role in handedness, pathological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, and stroke recovery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Corpus Callosum / physiology
  • Humans
  • Motor Cortex / physiology*
  • Movement / physiology*
  • Nerve Net / pathology
  • Nerve Net / physiology*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology