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How does temporal preparation speed up response implementation in choice tasks? Evidence for an early cortical activation
Author(s) -
Tandonnet Christophe,
Davranche Karen,
Meynier Chloé,
Burle Borís,
Vidal Franck,
Hasbroucq Thierry
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2011.01301.x
Subject(s) - transcranial magnetic stimulation , psychology , stimulus (psychology) , neuroscience , motor cortex , choice reaction time , evoked potential , stimulation , audiology , cognitive psychology , cognition , medicine
We investigated the influence of temporal preparation on information processing. Single‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation ( TMS ) of the primary motor cortex was delivered during a between‐hand choice task. The time interval between the warning and the imperative stimulus varied across blocks of trials was either optimal (500 ms) or nonoptimal (2500 ms) for participants' performance. Silent period duration was shorter prior to the first evidence of response selection for the optimal condition. Amplitude of the motor evoked potential specific to the responding hand increased earlier for the optimal condition. These results revealed an early release of cortical inhibition and a faster integration of the response selection‐related inputs to the corticospinal pathway when temporal preparation is better. Temporal preparation may induce cortical activation prior to response selection that speeds up the implementation of the selected response.