Electroencephalographic and Autonomic Correlates of Imaginary and Real Movements of Legs in Right-Handers and Left-Handers

Abstract

Abstract— Changes in the spectral power (SP) of electroencephalogram (EEG) in the α-band and the heart rate variability (HRV) were studied in subjects with right and left motor dominance profiles during imaginary and real flexion of right and left feet. During the implementation of motor tasks, a pronounced desynchronization of α-rhythm in frontal and central leads and its less significant changes in parietal and occipital zones of both hemispheres were revealed. The peculiarity of right-handers during mental and real leg movements was the variable and asymmetric character of changes in the SP of α-rhythm in the bilateral leads from various cortical areas. In left-handed subjects, when imagining and performing movements, the desynchronization of α-rhythm in different leads had the same severity and there were practically no hemispheric asymmetry in SP. Right-handers had are latively stable vegetative status during the performance of motor tasks, and HRV changes occurred mainly with real leg movements. In left-handers HRV parameters changed more strongly and mainly during mental actions with their feet. Correlations were found between the α-rhythm SP and HRV parameters, depending on the type of movement and the motor dominance profile of subjects. The obtained data reflect the peculiarities of regulation mechanisms of voluntary leg movements and the differences in the vegetative support of motor activity in right-handed and left-handed people.