Do movement-related beta oscillations change after stroke?

Stroke is the most common cause of physical disability in the world today. While the key element of rehabilitative therapy is training, there is currently much interest in approaches that “prime” the primary motor cortex to be more excitable, thereby increasing the likelihood of experience-dependent plasticity. Cortical oscillations reflect the balance of excitation and inhibition, itself a key determinant of the potential for experience-dependent plasticity. In the motor system, beta-band oscillations are important and are thought to maintain the resting sensorimotor state. Here we examined motor cortex beta oscillations during rest and unimanual movement in a group of stroke patients and healthy control subjects, using magnetoencephalography. Movement-related beta desynchronization (MRBD) in contralateral primary motor cortex was found to be significantly reduced in patients compared with control subjects. Within the patient group, smaller MRBD was seen in those with more motor impairment. We speculate that impaired modulation of beta oscillations during affected hand grip is detrimental to motor control, highlighting this as a potential therapeutic target in neurorehabilitation.