Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

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...
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.
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...
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.
Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy01:16

Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy

The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord offers a detailed view of its complex structure and function within the central nervous system. At the core of the spinal cord lies the gray matter, characterized by its butterfly or "H"-shaped appearance in cross-section. This central region is enveloped by white matter, with the overall structure divided into symmetrical halves by the dorsal median sulcus and the ventral median fissure.
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Neurophysiological Characteristics Associated with Driving Abilities in Older Adults: A Scoping Review.

Journal of clinical medicine·2026
Same author

Control of mirror activity by transcranial direct current stimulation of the supplementary motor area.

Neuroreport·2026
Same author

Optimal Number of Signal Averages in Stimulated Echo Acquisition Mode for Proton MR Spectroscopy of Brain at 7T.

Magnetic resonance in medical sciences : MRMS : an official journal of Japan Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine·2025
Same author

Accuracy of computational fluid dynamics indices of unruptured cerebral aneurysms with 3 T magnetic resonance angiography.

Neuroradiology·2025
Same author

Adult hypophosphatasia presenting with recurrent acute joint pain.

Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism case reports·2025
Same author

A diffusion kurtosis imaging study of the relationship between whole brain microstructure and cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Acta radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987)·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

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

In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior

Published on: November 22, 2021

[Cortical control in locomotion].

Futoshi Mori1, Katsumi Nakajima

  • 1Department of Veterinary System Physiology, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan.

Brain and Nerve = Shinkei Kenkyu No Shinpo
|November 12, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Bipedal locomotion, while appearing simple, requires complex brain coordination. Studies show both humans and monkeys utilize multiple cortical motor areas for bipedal walking and posture control.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Primatology
  • Biomechanics

Context:

  • Locomotion, including bipedal (Bp) and quadrupedal (Qp) movement, involves intricate spatial and temporal coordination of the head, neck, trunk, and limbs.
  • Seamless integration of limb movements and posture is critical for successful locomotion.
  • Functional brain imaging reveals significant activation in human sensorimotor cortices and the cerebellum during Bp locomotion.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying bipedal locomotion in a non-human primate model.
  • To compare the cerebral control of Bp locomotion in humans and Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata).
  • To elucidate the functional roles of specific cortical motor regions in the elaboration and refinement of Bp walking.

Summary:

  • Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) were trained to develop Bp walking capabilities, exhibiting kinematic features similar to humans.

More Related Videos

Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion
08:19

Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion

Published on: January 15, 2016

Force and Position Control in Humans - The Role of Augmented Feedback
06:31

Force and Position Control in Humans - The Role of Augmented Feedback

Published on: June 19, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

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

In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior

Published on: November 22, 2021

Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion
08:19

Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion

Published on: January 15, 2016

Force and Position Control in Humans - The Role of Augmented Feedback
06:31

Force and Position Control in Humans - The Role of Augmented Feedback

Published on: June 19, 2016

  • Neuroimaging studies demonstrated activation in multiple cortical motor areas during monkey Bp walking, mirroring human responses.
  • Cortical inactivation experiments revealed distinct functional roles for different cortical regions in Bp locomotion control.

    • Impact:

    • Findings highlight the selective yet multiple involvement of cortical motor regions in Bp locomotion for both humans and non-human primates.
    • Understanding these CNS mechanisms is crucial for developing treatments for locomotor dysfunctions caused by CNS impairments.
    • This research advocates for multi-comparative interdisciplinary studies to further unravel the neural control of upright standing and locomotion.