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Related Concept Videos

Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

The indirect motor or extrapyramidal pathways originate in the brainstem, the lower portion of the brain that connects it to the spinal cord. They consist of several distinct tracts, each with specialized functions. The four main tracts of the indirect motor pathways are the vestibulospinal tract, the reticulospinal tract, the tectospinal tract, and the rubrospinal tract.
The vestibulospinal tract originates in the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem. The vestibular system detects changes in...
Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

The direct motor pathways, also known as the pyramidal tracts, are a group of neural pathways that originate in the brain and descend through the spinal cord. They control the voluntary movement of the body. There are two major direct motor pathways: the corticospinal and the corticobulbar tracts.
The corticospinal tract is responsible for the voluntary movement of the limbs and trunk. It originates in the cerebral cortex of the brain and descends through the cerebrum's internal capsule and the...
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways01:28

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the posterior columns...
Brainstem01:19

Brainstem

The brainstem, located inferior to the brain and superior to the spinal cord, serves as a bridge between the cerebrum and the spinal cord. It plays a vital role in relaying information and controlling critical life functions. It comprises three primary regions: the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
The Midbrain
The midbrain is located beneath the diencephalon and connects the cerebrum with the lower parts of the brain. The cerebral peduncles are prominent midbrain structures that house the...
Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

The hierarchy of motor control refers to the different levels of organization and processing involved in controlling movement in the body. These levels range from higher cortical areas involved in planning and decision-making to lower spinal cord reflexes that respond automatically to external stimuli.
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.

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Related Experiment Video

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In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior
07:52

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Published on: November 22, 2021

Putative neural substrate of normal and abnormal general movements.

Mijna Hadders-Algra1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Institute of Developmental Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. m.hadders-algra@med.umcg.nl

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|June 15, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Assessing general movements (GMs) in infants is key for nervous system integrity. Abnormal GMs, particularly at fidgety GM age, can predict cerebral palsy and minor neurological dysfunction.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Movement Science

Background:

  • General movements (GMs) are crucial for assessing the developing nervous system in fetuses and infants.
  • Typical GMs exhibit complexity and variation; abnormalities indicate potential neurological issues.
  • Abnormal GMs can predict future developmental outcomes, with assessments at fidgety GM age (2-4 months post-term) being highly informative.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a hypothesis linking the cortical subplate to the complexity and variation observed in general movements.
  • To explain how damage or dysfunction of the subplate and its motor connections may lead to abnormal GMs.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on general movements assessment in infants.
  • Hypothesis formulation based on neurodevelopmental principles.

Main Results:

  • General movements quality is a sensitive indicator of early nervous system integrity.
  • Abnormal GMs at fidgety age correlate with cerebral palsy and minor neurological dysfunction.
  • The hypothesis posits the cortical subplate's role in generating complex GMs.

Conclusions:

  • The transient cortical subplate is hypothesized to be essential for typical GM complexity and variation.
  • Damage to the subplate or its connections likely causes abnormal GMs.
  • This framework offers insights into early neurological assessment and prediction.