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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention
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Distinct Corticostriatal GABAergic Neurons Modulate Striatal Output Neurons and Motor Activity.

Sarah Melzer1, Mariana Gil1, David E Koser1

  • 1Department of Clinical Neurobiology at the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.

Cell Reports
|May 4, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers discovered previously unknown inhibitory motor cortex neurons that control movement. These GABAergic neurons in the primary (M1) and secondary (M2) motor cortex influence locomotion by modulating striatal output.

Keywords:
GABAlocomotionlong-rangemotor cortexoptogeneticsparvalbuminsomatostatinstriatum

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Basal Ganglia Function

Background:

  • The motor cortico-basal ganglion loop is vital for motor control.
  • Balanced neural excitation and inhibition are essential for motor output.
  • Excitatory neurons were previously considered the sole source of motor cortical input to the striatum.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize long-range projecting GABAergic neurons in the motor cortex targeting the dorsal striatum.
  • To investigate the role of these neurons in modulating motor activity.

Main Methods:

  • Identification of projecting GABAergic neurons in M1 and M2 motor cortex.
  • Characterization of neuronal subtypes (SOM+, PV+).
  • Optogenetic stimulation to assess effects on locomotion.

Main Results:

  • Discovery of long-range projecting GABAergic neurons in M1 and M2 motor cortex targeting the dorsal striatum.
  • These neurons include somatostatin-positive (SOM+) and parvalbumin-positive (PV+) subtypes.
  • Optogenetic stimulation of specific M1 and M2 GABAergic populations differentially modulated locomotion (reduction or enhancement).

Conclusions:

  • Projecting GABAergic neurons from the motor cortex represent a significant input to the striatum.
  • These projections differentially target striatal pathways and interneurons.
  • Corticostriatal GABAergic projections play a crucial role in regulating striatal output and overall motor activity.