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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Measuring and Manipulating Functionally Specific Neural Pathways in the Human Motor System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: February 23, 2020
Neuronal activity in the cortical supplementary motor area related with distal and proximal forelimb movements
Abstract:
Monkeys were trained to perform two different motor acts, one involving muscle activity in distal forelimb muscles and the other in proximal forelimb and shoulder girdle muscles. After confirming spatial and temporal dissociation of muscle activity in the two motor acts, single unit activity in the supplementary motor area (SMA) was recorded. SMA neurons related with the distal and proximal forelimb movements were found to be arranged rostrocaudally with a considerable overlap. In the overlapping region, neurons related with the distal movement were located more deeply.
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