Bereitschaft (readiness potential) and supplemental motor area interaction in movement generation: spinal cord injury and normal subjects

Abstract

The readiness potential (BP) consists of movement-related cortical potentials (MRCPs) peaking in the motor potential (MP). Our objective was to better understand the role of the BP and MP in the production of voluntary movements and to help define the relative roles of the supplementary motor area (SMA) and the BP in the generation of self-paced and passive finger movements. The ultimate goal was to relate the BP (or the SMA) to external devices via conversion of potentials to a language "understood" by the receiving devices.