Hippocampal negative event-related potential recorded in humans during a simple sensorimotor task occurs independently of motor execution

Robert Roman*, Milan Brázdil, Jan Chládek, Ivan Rektor, Pavel Jurák, Miroslav Světlák, Alena Damborská, Daniel J. Shaw, Miloslav Kukleta

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A hippocampal-prominent event-related potential (ERP) with a peak latency at around 450 ms is consistently observed as a correlate of hippocampal activity during various cognitive tasks. Some intracranial EEG studies demonstrated that the amplitude of this hippocampal potential was greater in response to stimuli requiring an overt motor response, in comparison with stimuli for which no motor response is required. These findings could indicate that hippocampal-evoked activity is related to movement execution as well as stimulus evaluation and associated memory processes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the temporal relationship between the hippocampal negative potential latency and motor responses. We analyzed ERPs recorded with 22 depth electrodes implanted into the hippocampi of 11 epileptic patients. Subjects were instructed to press a button after the presentation of a tone. All investigated hippocampi generated a prominent negative ERP peaking at ~420 ms. In 16 from 22 cases, we found that the ERP latency did not correlate with the reaction time; in different subjects, this potential could either precede or follow the motor response. Our results indicate that the hippocampal negative ERP occurs independently of motor execution. We suggest that hippocampal-evoked activity, recorded in a simple sensorimotor task, is related to the evaluation of stimulus meaning within the context of situation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1337-1344
Number of pages8
JournalHippocampus
Volume23
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2013

Keywords

  • Auditory task
  • ERP latency
  • Hippocampus
  • Intracranial recordings
  • Motor response

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Hippocampal negative event-related potential recorded in humans during a simple sensorimotor task occurs independently of motor execution'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this