Simple tasks like picking up a cup of coffee or flipping a light switch seem effortless, but the brain performs complex calculations to coordinate these movements. Researchers at the University of Oregon used functional MRI (fMRI) to uncover the neural processes behind these actions. Their findings, published in eNeuro, could help enhance brain-computer interface technologies, including brain-controlled prosthetic arms.
Mapping the Brain’s Strategy for Reaching
To plan even a basic action, the brain must determine the direction and distance between the hand and the target. It does this by integrating sensory information from multiple reference frames, such as the hand-to-object and eye-to-object perspectives. Previous research has explored this mechanism in primates, but this study provides the first evidence of these neural representations in humans.
Breakthroughs in Brain Imaging
During the experiment, participants lay inside an MRI scanner while interacting with a button-pushing tablet. fMRI scans revealed that the brain first encodes direction before processing distance. The study also showed that these calculations occur across multiple brain regions rather than a single area. Understanding this process could improve the design of brain-controlled prosthetic limbs by incorporating multiple reference frames and refining motion accuracy.
Applications for Athletes and Aging Populations
As reported by medicalxpress, the research team is now studying elite athletes to determine if their brains process reaching movements more efficiently. Early results suggest that athletes require less brain activity for these tasks. In the future, the researchers plan to examine how aging and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, affect motor control. Their work could lead to early detection methods for cognitive decline, as sensory and motor impairments often appear years before clinical symptoms.
By exploring how the brain integrates sensory information, this research aims to advance assistive technology and deepen our understanding of human movement.