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

The Neuromuscular Junction01:19

The Neuromuscular Junction

22.4K
The nervous system consists of complex motor neuron circuits, including upper motor neurons originating from the cerebral cortex and lower motor neurons starting in the spinal cord, coordinating both voluntary and involuntary movements. Among these, somatic motor neurons activate skeletal muscles and are classified into alpha, beta, and gamma types. Alpha neurons are vital for voluntary movement coordination, while gamma neurons adjust muscle spindle sensitivity, and the function of beta...
22.4K
Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

3.8K
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...
3.8K
Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

6.7K
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.
6.7K
Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

5.2K
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...
5.2K
Brainstem01:19

Brainstem

8.0K
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...
8.0K
Motor Units01:13

Motor Units

9.9K
The motor unit is a fundamental component of the neuromuscular system and plays a crucial role in coordinating muscle contractions. It consists of a somatic motor neuron, which connects and controls multiple skeletal muscle fibers, forming a single functional segment. The axon of the motor neuron branches out and establishes synaptic connections known as neuromuscular junctions with individual muscle fibers within the motor unit.
Motor units come in different sizes, with smaller units...
9.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Agility training enhances motor temporal precision by reweighting spinal phase-locked commissural inhibition.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same author

Additive convergence for visuomotor decisions.

Trends in neurosciences·2026
Same author

Persistent interferon signaling causes sensory neuron plasticity and pain before and during arthritis.

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same author

Time-dependent adaptations of damaged neurons and their microenvironment in the regenerating adult zebrafish spinal cord.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Redefining the central pattern generator for vertebrate locomotion.

Nature reviews. Neuroscience·2026
Same author

Integrated single-cell atlases unveil the operation principles of whole-brain 5-HT neuronal subsystems.

Science advances·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 27, 2026

Spinal Cord Electrophysiology
04:59

Spinal Cord Electrophysiology

Published on: January 18, 2010

22.3K

Motor neurons control locomotor circuit function retrogradely via gap junctions.

Jianren Song1, Konstantinos Ampatzis1, E Rebecka Björnfors1

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.

Nature
|January 14, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Motor neurons actively control locomotion by communicating with V2a interneurons through gap junctions in zebrafish. This finding redefines motor neurons as integral to neural circuits, not just passive signal carriers.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Using the MouseWalker to Quantify Locomotor Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Spinal Cord Injury
07:28

Author Spotlight: Using the MouseWalker to Quantify Locomotor Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Spinal Cord Injury

Published on: March 24, 2023

4.4K
Retrograde Tracing of Drosophila Embryonic Motor Neurons Using Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes
08:25

Retrograde Tracing of Drosophila Embryonic Motor Neurons Using Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes

Published on: January 12, 2020

6.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 27, 2026

Spinal Cord Electrophysiology
04:59

Spinal Cord Electrophysiology

Published on: January 18, 2010

22.3K
Author Spotlight: Using the MouseWalker to Quantify Locomotor Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Spinal Cord Injury
07:28

Author Spotlight: Using the MouseWalker to Quantify Locomotor Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Spinal Cord Injury

Published on: March 24, 2023

4.4K
Retrograde Tracing of Drosophila Embryonic Motor Neurons Using Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes
08:25

Retrograde Tracing of Drosophila Embryonic Motor Neurons Using Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes

Published on: January 12, 2020

6.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor control
  • Zebrafish models

Background:

  • Motor neurons traditionally viewed as passive 'final common pathway'.
  • Motor neurons convey motor commands from upstream circuits to muscles.
  • Limited understanding of motor neuron roles beyond signal transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the role of motor neurons in locomotor circuit function.
  • Explore the mechanism of motor neuron control over interneurons.
  • Determine if motor neurons actively participate in motor rhythm generation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized zebrafish as a model organism.
  • Investigated the function of gap junctions between motor neurons and interneurons.
  • Performed selective inhibition of motor neurons during locomotion.

Main Results:

  • Discovered motor neurons control V2a interneuron recruitment via gap junctions.
  • Demonstrated retrograde analogue propagation of voltage fluctuations.
  • Showed motor neuron inhibition disrupts locomotor rhythm and V2a interneuron activity.

Conclusions:

  • Motor neurons are active participants in locomotor circuits.
  • Gap junctions unite motor neurons and V2a interneurons into functional ensembles.
  • Motor neurons contribute to retrograde analogue computation for rhythm generation.