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Related Concept Videos

Brainstem01:19

Brainstem

7.5K
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...
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Brainstem: Control Centers of Medulla01:21

Brainstem: Control Centers of Medulla

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The medulla oblongata is a crucial part of the brainstem responsible for controlling various autonomic and involuntary functions. It contains several nuclei, including the olivary, cuneate, gracile, and solitary nuclei.
Olivary Nucleus
The olivary nucleus, or inferior olivary nucleus, is located within the ventrolateral part of the medulla oblongata. It is primarily involved in motor coordination and motor learning. The olivary nucleus receives input from the spinal cord, cerebellum, and motor...
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Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

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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...
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Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay01:27

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

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The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is  a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological...
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Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

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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...
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Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior
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Brainstem nucleus MdV mediates skilled forelimb motor tasks.

Maria Soledad Esposito1, Paolo Capelli1, Silvia Arber1

  • 11] Biozentrum, Department of Cell Biology, University of Basel, Basel 4056, Switzerland [2] Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel 4058, Switzerland.

Nature
|February 4, 2014
PubMed
Summary

The brainstem

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Systems Neuroscience

Background:

  • The brain and spinal cord interact to translate neural signals into movement.
  • The brainstem's role as a bridge between brain and spinal cord is crucial but poorly understood at the circuit level.
  • Understanding brainstem circuitry is key to deciphering motor control mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the circuit-level organization and function of brainstem nuclei in motor control.
  • To identify specific brainstem substructures and their synaptic connections with spinal motor neurons.
  • To determine the role of these circuits in skilled motor behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized intersectional virus tracing and genetic strategies in mice.
  • Mapped synaptic connectivity between brainstem substructures and spinal motor neurons.

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  • Performed selective neuronal ablation and silencing to assess functional importance.

    • Main Results:

    • Revealed a selective synaptic connectivity matrix between brainstem and spinal motor neurons.
    • Identified the ventral part of the medullary reticular formation (MdV) as specifically targeting forelimb motor neurons.
    • Demonstrated that MdV glutamatergic premotor neurons are recruited during motor tasks and are critical for skilled motor behaviors like reaching and rotarod tasks.

    Conclusions:

    • Distinct premotor brainstem nuclei, such as MdV, selectively access spinal subcircuits.
    • These brainstem circuits are essential for mediating task-specific aspects of motor programs.
    • MdV plays a critical role in skilled motor behaviors, highlighting the specificity of brainstem control over movement.