Brief Temporal Perturbations in Somatosensory Reafference Disrupt Perceptual and Neural Attenuation and Increase Supplementary Motor Area–Cerebellar Connectivity

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1743-22.2023
• Publication Date: 2023-06-20T17:50:13Z
• Authors: Konstantina Kilteni; Christian Houborg; H. Henrik Ehrsson
• Keywords: Motor Control; Somatosensory evoked potential

Intrinsic delays in sensory feedback can be detrimental for motor control. As a compensation strategy, the brain predicts consequences of movement via forward model on basis copy command. Using these predictions, attenuates somatosensory reafference to facilitate processing exafferent information. Theoretically, this predictive attenuation is disrupted by (even minimal) temporal errors between predicted and actual reafference; however, direct evidence such disruption lacking as previous neuroimaging studies contrasted nondelayed reafferent input with input. Here, we combined psychophysics functional magnetic resonance imaging test whether subtle perturbations timing disrupt its processing. Twenty-eight participants (14 women) generated touches their left index finger tapping sensor right finger. The were delivered close time contact two fingers or perturbation (i.e., 153 ms delay). We found that brief at both perceptual neural levels, leading greater cerebellar responses weaker connectivity cerebellum, proportional changes. interpret effects failure predictively attenuate perturbed reafference. Moreover, observed increased supplementary area cerebellum during perturbations, which could indicate communication prediction error back centers. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Our receives from our movements delay. To counteract delays, control theories postulate sensations received time. Thus, self-generated touch feels than an identical external touch. However, how perturb remains unknown. show make otherwise attenuated feel stronger, elicit stronger responses, weaken areas, increase areas. These findings areas are fundamental forming predictions about movements.