Coherent oscillations across the human brain, spinal cord, and muscle network.

Coherent 10-35 Hz oscillations link brain, spinal cord, and muscle in humans, revealing a distributed sensorimotor network during movement.

• Why it matters: Understanding spinal cord activity non-invasively has been challenging, limiting insights into sensorimotor interactions crucial for movement control and rehabilitation.
• What they did: Using concurrent brain and spinal cord imaging with optically pumped magnetometers and electromyography in nine participants performing hand contractions, the study identified rhythmic activity propagating through the cortico-spinal-muscular loop.
• The result: The findings demonstrate a non-invasive, physiologically plausible, bidirectional network with specific spatial organization, enabling new research avenues into human sensorimotor physiology and potential clinical applications.