Enhanced human sensorimotor integration via self-modulation of the somatosensory activity

Abstract

Motor performance improvement through self-modulation of brain activity has been demonstrated through neurofeedback. However, the sensorimotor plasticity induced through the training remains unclear. Here, we combined individually tailored closed-loop neurofeedback, neurophysiology, and behavioral assessment to characterize how the training can modulate the somatosensory system and improve performance. The real-time neurofeedback of human electroencephalogram (EEG) signals enhanced participants’ self-modulation ability of intrinsic neural oscillations in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) within 30 min. Further, the short-term reorganization in S1 was corroborated by the post-training changes in somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) amplitude of the early component from S1. Meanwhile those derived from peripheral and spinal sensory fibers were maintained (N9 and N13 components), suggesting that the training manipulated S1 activities. Behavioral evaluation demonstrated improved performance during keyboard touch-typing indexed by resolved speed-accuracy trade-off. Collectively, our results provide evidence that neurofeedback training induces functional reorganization of S1 and sensorimotor function.