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Related Experiment Videos

Whisker motor cortex ablation and whisker movement patterns.

Puhong Gao1, Alexis M Hattox, Lauren M Jones

  • 1Department of Psychology, Hunter College (CUNY), New York City, NY 10021, USA.

Somatosensory & Motor Research
|December 17, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Lesions to the whisker motor cortex in rats disrupt whisking behavior, altering its speed, coordination, and timing. These findings suggest imbalances in cortical input to brainstem pattern generators.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Sensory-Motor Systems

Background:

  • Previous qualitative studies suggested whisker motor cortex lesions do not impair whisking.
  • The precise kinematic and temporal aspects of whisking post-lesion remained uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantitatively assess the impact of unilateral whisker motor cortex lesions on whisking kinematics and temporal organization in rats.
  • To investigate potential disruptions in whisking coordination and frequency.

Main Methods:

  • High-resolution optoelectronic recording of whisker movements.
  • Comparative analysis of whisking patterns before and after unilateral whisker motor cortex lesions in rats.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Lesions significantly disrupted whisking kinematics, coordination, and temporal organization, despite not abolishing whisking.
  • Increased velocity and amplitude of contralateral whisker protractions were observed.
  • Reduced synchrony between bilateral whisker movements and a shift in whisking frequencies (reduced 5-7 Hz, increased < 2 Hz) were noted.

    • Conclusions:

    • Unilateral whisker motor cortex lesions induce significant, quantifiable deficits in whisking behavior.
    • Observed disruptions suggest an imbalance in cortical inputs to the brainstem central pattern generator controlling whisking.