EEG-Based Cross Transfer Effect Between Wrists by Visuomotor Training

Ting Liu, Liping Huang, Yizhao Wang, Zhuang Wang, Jialing Wu
Purpose:

This study investigated cross transfer effect of short-term visuomotor training to untrained wrist from trained wrist, from both views of behavioral results and brain activity analysis.

Methods:

Thirty healthy volunteers (25.53±4.95, ranging from18 years to 35 years) were recruited in this study. They were randomly assigned into two groups: cross-transfer (n= 15) group performed visuomotor training (VM group) and conventional training (n=15) group (CT group) performed flexion and extension training on the right wrist. There are two sessions of experiment, assessment session and training session. 

Results:

Behavioral results showed that after visuomotor training of right wrist on VM group, mean movement accuracy error (MAE) of right wrist was reduced from 1.93±0.65º to 1.52±0.32º (p0.05) after training. Mean MAE of left wrist was reduced from 1.88±0.50º to 1.69±0.32º (p0.05) after training. EEG topography showed reduced brain activity as assessment task become familiar. Event-related potentials (ERPs) showed a decrease of amplitude during assessment for both trained and untrained wrist movement. Movement-related cortical potentials(MRCPs) latency significantly increased at C3 and C4 (p 0.05)  while amplitude decreased at C3 and Cz (p 0.05) for the right wrist; latency significantly increased at C3 (p 0.05) while amplitude decreased at Cz (p 0.05) for the left wrist. Reduced power in β-frequency event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) after VM was observed for both wrists. For CT group, mean MAE of right wrist was increased from 1.68±0.45º to 1.87±0.28º (p 0.05), while left wrist showed no statistical significance. And a decreased motor function on the trained wrist and no significance on the untrained wrist. No significant energy change corresponding to left/right wrist was observed in EEG topography after training. There is a noticeable decrease in ERPs amplitude at the central and parietal regions for both left and right wrist. MRCPs latency significantly increased at C3  (p 0.05) while amplitude showed decreased trend at C3 for the right wrist; latency and amplitude showed no statistically significant change for the left wrist.

Conclusion(s):

Cross transfer effect existed during visuomotor training of the untrained wrist, and could be a guideline for future rehabilitation. 

Implications:

This study provide a new idea for the rehabilitation treatment of clinical patients.  For example, training the non-paralysed side wrist of stroke or brain injury patients will improve the sensory/motor function of the paralysed side wrist.

In addition, the duration of observation effect will also provide a scientific basis for training frequency. This can save the time and cost of treatment, and optimize the treatment effect.

Funding acknowledgements:
National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFF1202500, 2022YFF1202503); Tianjin Health Research Project(TJWJ2023MS026)
Keywords:
proprioception
visuomotor training
transfer effect
Primary topic:
Neurology
Second topic:
Research methodology, knowledge translation and implementation science
Third topic:
Other
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
1.Ethics committees of Tianjin University of Sport, China 2.Ethics committees of Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, China.
Provide the ethics approval number:
1.TJUS2021-002; 2.2023-196
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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