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Published on: August 20, 2019
Using neuronal states for transcribing cortical activity into muscular effort
Octave Boussaton1, Laurent Bougrain
1Cortex project team, Inria Nancy-Grand Est, Villers-les-Nancy, France. octave.boussaton at inria.fr
Summary
Researchers explored the link between corticomotoneuronal (CM) cell activity and finger forces. They developed a model predicting muscular effort using neuronal states and finger movements.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- Corticomotoneuronal (CM) cells in the primary motor cortex play a crucial role in voluntary movement.
- Understanding the relationship between CM cell activity and fine motor control, such as finger force exertion, is essential for deciphering motor commands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between the firing rates of CM cells and the forces exerted by the thumb and index fingers.
- To establish a framework of "neuronal states" defined by CM cell activity to predict muscular effort.
Main Methods:
- Recorded CM cell activity in the primary motor cortex of a monkey during thumb and index finger tasks.
- Measured finger forces as the monkey pressed two levers.
- Developed a forecasting model incorporating CM cell firing rates, spike train synchrony, and lever position variations.
Main Results:
- Identified specific neuronal states corresponding to variations or stability in muscular effort.
- Demonstrated that a linear combination of firing rates and synchrony information could predict changes in finger force.
Conclusions:
- Neuronal states derived from CM cell activity are indicative of muscular effort.
- The developed forecasting model shows promise in predicting finger forces based on neural and kinematic data.
