Biology subjects

Boisgontier, M. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Boisgontier, M. P..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Neural correlates of approach and avoidance tendencies toward physical activity and sedentary stimuli: An fMRI study

Automatic tendencies toward physical activity and sedentary stimuli are involved in the regulation of physical activity behavior. However, the brain regions underlying these automatic tendencies remain largely unknown. Here, we used an approach-avoidance task and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 42 healthy young adults to investigate whether cortical and subcortical brain regions underpinning reward processing and executive function are associated with these tendencies. At the behavioral level, results showed more errors in avoidance behavior following sedentary stimuli than physical activity stimuli. At the brain level, avoidance behavior following sedentary stimuli was associated with more activation of the motor control network (dorsolateral-prefrontal cortex, primary and secondary motor cortices, somatosensory cortex). In addition, increased activation of the bilateral parahippocampal gyrus -- and structural deformation of the right hippocampus - were associated with a tendency toward approaching sedentary stimuli. Together, these results suggest that avoiding sedentary stimuli requires higher levels of behavioral control than avoiding physical activity stimuli.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Regional and age-dependent Effects of Cortical Magnetic Stimulation on Unconstrained Reaching Behavior

BackgroundThe specific and dynamic contributions of premotor and supplementary motor areas to reaching movements in aging humans are not well understood. ObjectiveTo better understand the role of cortical motor regions and age on the control of unconstrained reaches against gravity by neurologically intact, younger and older adults. MethodsDouble pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied at locations targeting primary motor cortex (M1), dorsal premotor area (PMA), supplementary motor area (SMA), or dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Paired stimuli were delivered before or after a visual cue was presented to initiate self-paced right-handed reaches to one of three, vertically oriented target locations. ResultsRegional stimulation effects on movement amplitude were observed both early and late in the reach. PMA stimulation increased reach distance to a greater extent than M1, SMA, and DLPFC stimulation. M1 and PMA stimulation increased deviation from the straight-line path around the time of peak velocity to an extent that was greater than SMA and DLPFC stimulation. Cortical stimulation increased the time that elapsed after, but not before, peak velocity. Despite stronger effects of stimulation on reaches in the younger group, this group had shorter times to reach the target after reaching peak velocity. ConclusionThese results provide support for a role of PMA in visually guided movement after movement initiation. For older subjects, the increased time to arrive at the target after peak velocity despite weaker stimulation effects suggests an age-related reduction in sensorimotor processing flexibility for online control of unconstrained reaching. HighlightsO_LIDorsal premotor area stimulation at any time during the reaction-time period and early reaching affected early reach kinematics at least as much as stimulation of primary motor cortex. C_LIO_LIOlder individuals had more stimulation-related interference in the late components of reaching despite having less early effect of stimulation, suggesting a reduction in flexibility of dynamic motor control due to aging. C_LIO_LIThe antigravity component of unconstrained reaching did not have special aspects for regional cortical effects of stimulation. C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Physical activity and general cognitive functioning: A Mendelian Randomization study

Physical activity and cognitive functioning are strongly intertwined. However, the causal relationships underlying this association are still unclear. Physical activity can enhance brain functions, but healthy cognition may also promote engagement in physical activity. Here, we assessed the bidirectional relationships between physical activity and general cognitive functioning using Latent Heritable Confounder Mendelian Randomization (LHC-MR). Association data were drawn from two large-scale genome-wide association studies (UK Biobank and COGENT) on accelerometer-measured moderate, vigorous, and average physical activity (N = 91,084) and cognitive functioning (N = 257,841). After Bonferroni correction, we observed significant LHC-MR associations suggesting that increased fraction of both moderate (b = 0.32, CI95% = [0.17,0.47], P = 2.89e-05) and vigorous physical activity (b = 0.22, CI95% = [0.06,0.37], P = 0.007) lead to increased cognitive functioning. In contrast, we found no evidence of a causal effect of average physical activity on cognitive functioning, and no evidence of a reverse causal effect (cognitive functioning on any physical activity measures). These findings provide new evidence supporting a beneficial role of moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on cognitive functioning.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2018

Avoiding sedentary behaviors requires more cortical resources than avoiding physical activity: An EEG study

HighlightsO_LIIndividuals are slower at approaching sedentary than physical activity stimuli\nC_LIO_LIIndividuals are quicker at avoiding sedentary than physical activity stimuli\nC_LIO_LIThese effects are particularly pronounced in physically active individuals\nC_LIO_LIAvoiding sedentary behaviors is associated with high levels of conflict monitoring and inhibition\nC_LIO_LIAdditional brain resources are required to escape a general attraction toward sedentary behaviors\nC_LI\n\nAbstractWhy do individuals fail to exercise regularly despite knowledge of the risks associated with physical inactivity? Automatic processes regulating exercise behaviors may partly explain this paradox. Yet, these processes have only been investigated with behavioral paradigms based on reaction times. Here, using electroencephalography, we investigated the cortical activity underlying automatic approach and avoidance tendencies toward stimuli depicting physical activity and sedentary behaviors in 29 young adults who were physically active (n=14) or physically inactive but with the intention of becoming physically active (n=15). Behavioral results showed faster reactions when approaching physical activity compared to sedentary behaviors and when avoiding sedentary behaviors compared to physical activity. These faster reactions were more pronounced in physically active individuals and were associated with changes during sensory integration (earlier onset latency and larger positive deflection of the stimulus-locked lateralized readiness potentials) but not during motor preparation (no effect on the response-locked lateralized readiness potentials). Faster reactions when avoiding sedentary behaviors compared to physical activity were also associated with higher conflict monitoring (larger early and late N1 event-related potentials) and higher inhibition (larger N2 event-related potentials), irrespective of the usual level of physical activity. These results suggest that additional cortical resources were required to counteract an attraction to sedentary behaviors. Data and Materials [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1169140].

neuroscience↗