Paradoxical lateralization of brain potentials during imagined foot movements

Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2005 Aug;24(3):727-31. doi: 10.1016/j.cogbrainres.2005.04.004.

Abstract

Though each foot is controlled primarily by the contralateral hemisphere, the event-related brain potentials preceding an overt foot movement are largest over the ipsilateral side of the head. Because such "paradoxical lateralization" results from the spatial organization of the motor homunculus, it can provide a sign of motor-cortex activation. We report paradoxical lateralization in the potentials accompanying imagined foot movements, thereby demonstrating a contribution of cortical areas directly involved in movement execution.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Electroencephalography
  • Electromyography
  • Electrooculography
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor / physiology*
  • Feedback, Psychological
  • Fixation, Ocular / physiology
  • Foot / physiology*
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Motor Cortex / physiology*
  • Movement / physiology*