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

Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

6.6K
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.
6.6K
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
Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

4.9K
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...
4.9K
Motor Units01:13

Motor Units

9.0K
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...
9.0K
Motor Units00:46

Motor Units

62.3K
A motor unit consists of two main components: a single efferent motor neuron (i.e., a neuron that carries impulses away from the central nervous system) and all of the muscle fibers it innervates. The motor neuron may innervate multiple muscle fibers, which are single cells, but only one motor neuron innervates a single muscle fiber.
62.3K
Brainstem01:19

Brainstem

7.4K
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...
7.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Extrachromosomal DNA-Driven Oncogene Spatial Heterogeneity and Evolution in Glioblastoma.

Cancer discovery·2025
Same author

Extrachromosomal DNA driven oncogene spatial heterogeneity and evolution in glioblastoma.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2024
Same author

Breaking barriers for glioblastoma with a path to enhanced drug delivery.

Nature communications·2023
Same author

Clinical impact of anti-inflammatory microglia and macrophage phenotypes at glioblastoma margins.

Brain communications·2023
Same author

Leveraging extrachromosomal DNA to fine-tune trials of targeted therapy for glioblastoma: opportunities and challenges.

Nature reviews. Clinical oncology·2022
Same author

Comparison of first-time microvascular decompression with percutaneous surgery for trigeminal neuralgia: long-term outcomes and prognostic factors.

Acta neurochirurgica·2021
Same journal

The microlandscapes of tree trunks: the effect of lichen and tree-level characteristics on arthropod communities.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Centimetre-scale landscapes to assess the motion behaviour and cognition of gastropods and bivalves.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Intertidal microcosms of wave-swept rocky shores: ecological and physiological insights from a uniquely stressful environment.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Temporal and spatial variation in temperature and oxygen at the microscale: key niche axes for aquatic life.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Natural microcosms in ecology: fulfilling the promise of model systems?

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Microbe-induced galls and plant defence: metabolite crosstalk in a co-evolutionary battle.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 7, 2026

A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease
05:39

A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: June 13, 2025

987

Not moving: the fundamental but neglected motor function.

Imran Noorani1, R H S Carpenter2

  • 1Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|March 1, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The motor system

Keywords:
basal gangliainhibitionmotor systemneural control systemssaccadesuperior colliculus

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Remote Rehabilitation with Virtual Reality and Electromyography
04:06

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Remote Rehabilitation with Virtual Reality and Electromyography

Published on: January 12, 2024

1.1K
The "Motor" in Implicit Motor Sequence Learning: A Foot-stepping Serial Reaction Time Task
10:39

The "Motor" in Implicit Motor Sequence Learning: A Foot-stepping Serial Reaction Time Task

Published on: May 3, 2018

9.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 7, 2026

A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease
05:39

A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: June 13, 2025

987
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Remote Rehabilitation with Virtual Reality and Electromyography
04:06

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Remote Rehabilitation with Virtual Reality and Electromyography

Published on: January 12, 2024

1.1K
The "Motor" in Implicit Motor Sequence Learning: A Foot-stepping Serial Reaction Time Task
10:39

The "Motor" in Implicit Motor Sequence Learning: A Foot-stepping Serial Reaction Time Task

Published on: May 3, 2018

9.2K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • The motor system's role in initiating movement is well-studied.
  • The motor system's function in preventing movement and maintaining stillness is often overlooked.
  • Stillness requires significant energy and central nervous system control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the understudied mechanisms of movement suppression and stillness.
  • To introduce the scope of research on stopping and immobility.
  • To explore the neural underpinnings and dysfunctions of movement control.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on motor control and stillness.
  • Introduction to a themed issue on movement suppression.
  • Discussion of various types of stopping and stillness.

Main Results:

  • The motor system has predominantly inhibitory functions at higher levels.
  • Behavioral patterns involve intermittent activity and prolonged stillness.
  • Maintaining stillness is an active, energy-consuming process demanding neural control.

Conclusions:

  • Mechanisms for stopping movement and maintaining immobility are a neglected area of brain study.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for comprehending overall motor control.
  • Further research is needed to explore neural pathways and potential disorders related to movement suppression.