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Updated: Feb 3, 2026
08:41
Unilateral Pyramidotomy of the Corticospinal Tract in Rats for Assessment of Neuroplasticity-inducing Therapies
Published on: December 15, 2014
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The Corticospinal Discrepancy: Where are all the Slow Pyramidal Tract Neurons?
Alexander Kraskov1, Stuart Baker2, Demetris Soteropoulos2
1Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|October 27, 2018
Summary
Neuroanatomical and electrophysiological studies show a mismatch in primate corticospinal tract axon properties. Resolving this discrepancy is crucial for understanding corticospinal tract functions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor control
Background:
- The primate corticospinal tract is vital for voluntary movement.
- Previous studies have analyzed its structure and function separately.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the discrepancy between anatomical axon diameter distribution and electrophysiologically determined conduction velocity distribution in the primate corticospinal tract.
- To emphasize the importance of resolving this mismatch for a comprehensive understanding of corticospinal functions.
Main Methods:
- Neuroanatomical analysis of axon diameters.
- Electrophysiological assessment of axonal conduction velocities.
Main Results:
- A significant discrepancy exists between the anatomical and physiological data.
- The distribution of axon diameters does not directly correlate with the distribution of conduction velocities.
Conclusions:
- The mismatch between corticospinal tract anatomy and physiology presents a challenge for understanding motor control.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying reasons for this discrepancy and its functional implications.
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