Large-scale sensorimotor and associated neural networks (SMN)

The large-scale sensorimotor and associated neural networks represent a fundamental functional system of the human brain responsible for the integration of sensory inputs and the execution of motor outputs (Biswal et al., 1995). This network primarily encompasses the primary motor cortex (M1), the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), the supplementary motor area (SMA), and the premotor cortex, often showing high levels of synchronized activity during resting-state fMRI (Beckmann et al., 2005). Its biological function is critical for voluntary movement, motor learning, and the processing of somatosensory information such as touch and proprioception. Dysfunction or altered connectivity within these networks is a hallmark of several neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease, where network oscillations are disrupted, and stroke, where focal lesions lead to network-wide reorganization (Poston & Eidelberg, 2012; Grefkes & Fink, 2011). While not a single molecular entity, these networks are the functional targets of various therapeutic strategies, including dopaminergic medications like Levodopa for movement disorders and neuromodulation techniques like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) or Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) (Connolly & Lang, 2014). The network's activity can be monitored using neuroimaging biomarkers such as the BOLD signal or electrophysiological markers like the mu rhythm. Understanding the connectivity patterns within this network is essential for developing targeted interventions for motor recovery and chronic pain management.

Other names

Sensorimotor networkSomatomotor networkMotor-sensory networkSMN

Modulation of neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, and functional connectivity within the sensorimotor circuitry via pharmacological agents or neuromodulation.