Reconstructing whole brain spectral activations during the execution of Box and Block Test

To improve knowledge about neural mechanisms that underlie motor behaviours maintaining a non-invasive approach represents a challenge in biosignals processing. Statistical brain mapping in the source domain has been often adopted to efficiently overcome the low spatial resolution of EEG recordings, but rarely for a complex motor task. The main aim of the proposed study was the characterization of the physiological brain electrical activity underlying the execution of the Box and Block Test by means of the known Standardized Low Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA) source localization method. It allowed us to evaluate the specific cerebral patterns underlying the different motor phases in four frequency bands of interest. We observed occipital visual awareness processes during block handling, supported by peculiar medial and frontal cognitive components related to motor planning and strategy in addition to the sensorimotor one. Our promising findings will pave the way for the investigation of neuropathological conditions affecting motor behaviour in with a phase-specific approach.