• Caroline C Meadows, Philip A Gable, Keith R Lohse, and Matthew W Miller.
• School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, 301 Wire Road, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. Electronic address: ccm0040@auburn.edu.
• Neuroscience. 2016 Dec 17; 339: 174-179.

AbstractThe present study explored the relationship between motor-preparatory electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, motivation, and motor performance (specifically premotor reaction time [RT]). Participants performed a RT task by squeezing a hand dynamometer in response to an auditory "go" signal. We recorded EEG and electromyography to index beta-suppression and premotor RT, respectively. Participants' motivation on each trial was modulated by offering monetary incentives at different magnitudes. Mixed-effect linear regression models showed that monetary incentive predicted premotor RT when controlling for beta-suppression, and beta-suppression independently predicted premotor RT. Thus, it appears motivation and beta-suppression can facilitate motor performance independent of one another. A plausible explanation of this effect is that motivation can affect motor performance independent of the motor cortex by influencing subcortical motor circuitry.Copyright © 2016 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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