Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026

The Preparation of Oblique Spinal Cord Slices for Ventral Root Stimulation
Published on: October 13, 2016
Whither motoneurons?
Robert M Brownstone1, Douglas G Stuart
1Departments of Surgery (Neurosurgery) and Anatomy & Neurobiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 1X5. rob.brownstone@dal.ca
None:
In the preceding series of articles, the history of vertebrate motoneuron and motor unit neurobiological studies has been discussed. In this article, we select a few examples of recent advances in neuroscience and discuss their application or potential application to the study of motoneurons and the control of movement. We conclude, like Sherrington, that in order to understand normal, traumatized, and diseased human behavior, it is critical to continue to study motoneuron biology using all available and emerging tools. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Historical Review.
Related Concept Videos
Motor Units
Motor Units
Motor units come in different sizes, with smaller units...
The Neuromuscular Junction
Direct Motor Pathways
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...
Motor Unit Stimulation
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
Spinal Cord: Information Processing
Sensory Information Processing
Sensory information processing begins at the sensory receptors located in the skin and other tissues, which detect somatic sensory stimuli such as touch, temperature, or pain. These receptors function as catalysts, initiating...

