Intracerebral recording of readiness potential induced by a complex motor task

While exploring 11 epileptic patients with intracerebral electrodes, we rec orded readiness potential (RP) preceding a complex motor task. Multilead de pth electrodes were positioned stereotactically into the cortex. In three p atients, it was also possible to record RP from the putamen. The movement t riggering the recording was the turning of a page in an architectural book. The movement was performed under two conditions: in the first condition, w ithout looking at the pictures on the page (typical self-pacing); and in th e second condition, following the inspection of the pictures. There were no significant differences in the appearance of RP under these two conditions , neither in duration nor in amplitude. That could be explained by the fact that "self-paced" does not mean "spontaneous," but covers the internal non -conscious program related to a given task. RP were present in the contrala teral primary sensorimotor cortex and the bilateral supplementary motor are a (SMA), and in the anterior caudal cingulate cortex. No difference between the cortical topography of RP preceding a simple motor task and the topogr aphy of RP occurring in connection with complex movement was observed. (C) 2001 Movement Disorder Society.