[Functional role of the red nucleus in the cerebral cortex-cerebellum-spinal cord communication system]

Unilateral transection of the rubrospinal tract before lesion of the red nucleus or the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus has been shown to facilitate recovery of operantly conditioned reflexes and compensatory processes in rats. Such strengthening of the recovery plasticity and operantly conditioned was found when transection of the bulbar pyramide performed before ablation of the sensorimotor cortex. These influences are explained by activation of the rubroolivary projection, which is switching of descending cortico-rubrospinal system on the corticospinal system, and on the contrary. The general property of this phenomenon is that preliminary lesion of the peripheral part of the descending spinal projection to acquire a signal forestalling significance for mibilization of compensatory brain capacity in order to recovery the deficit of central link of the system.