The transfer of a timing pattern to the untrained human hand investigated with functional magnetic resonance imaging

The study investigates cortical hemodynamic responses during continuation t apping using auditory pacing stimuli in five healthy right-handed subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging. The tasks required the use of either the same finger for synchronization of the tapping movement and for continuation, or to use the contralateral finger for continuation. Results show, that using the contralateral finger increases regional cerebral blood flow in motor areas such as the anterior cerebellar hemispheres and vermis , in the cingulate motor area, but also in the posterior cingulum, when com pared to using the same finger. The complementary comparison shows increase d regional blood flow in the left hippocampus. The results suggest that in addition to pure executive functions, higher cognitive functions localized in these areas are involved in the transfer of interval timing. (C) 2001 El sevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.