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

Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

1.9K
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...
1.9K
Brainstem01:19

Brainstem

3.5K
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...
3.5K
Brainstem: Control Centers of Medulla01:21

Brainstem: Control Centers of Medulla

2.5K
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...
2.5K
Cerebellum: Anatomical Regions01:17

Cerebellum: Anatomical Regions

2.6K
The cerebellum, also known as the "little brain," is located in the posterior cranial fossa, inferior to the tentorium cerebelli and dorsal to the brainstem. It plays a significant role in motor control, coordination, and proprioception.
Cerebellar Structure
Externally, the cerebellum features a highly convoluted surface with numerous folia (narrow ridges) separated by shallow sulci (grooves). The cerebellum is divided into two hemispheres by a thin median structure known as the vermis. The...
2.6K
Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

2.7K
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...
2.7K
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways01:28

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

1.4K
Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the...
1.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

A hypothalamus-brainstem circuit governs the prioritization of safety over essential needs.

Nature neuroscience·2025
Same author

Spinal inhibitory neurons degenerate before motor neurons and excitatory neurons in a mouse model of ALS.

Science advances·2024
Same author

Excitatory Spinal Lhx9-Derived Interneurons Modulate Locomotor Frequency in Mice.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2024
Same author

Basal ganglia-spinal cord pathway that commands locomotor gait asymmetries in mice.

Nature neuroscience·2024
Same author

Dopamine and noradrenaline activate spinal astrocyte endfeet via D1-like receptors.

The European journal of neuroscience·2023
Same author

Author Correction: Pedunculopontine Chx10<sup>+</sup> neurons control global motor arrest in mice.

Nature neuroscience·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 7, 2025

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects
10:19

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects

Published on: April 13, 2011

13.0K

Brainstem Circuits for Locomotion.

Roberto Leiras1, Jared M Cregg1, Ole Kiehn1,2

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;

Annual Review of Neuroscience
|January 5, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review explores brainstem circuits controlling locomotion, detailing how command circuits manage movement initiation, speed, and direction. Understanding these pathways is crucial for deciphering context-specific locomotion.

Keywords:
basal gangliacortexcuneiform nucleusmotor controlpedunculopontine nucleusspinal cord

More Related Videos

Spinal Cord Electrophysiology
04:59

Spinal Cord Electrophysiology

Published on: January 18, 2010

21.6K
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

3.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 7, 2025

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects
10:19

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects

Published on: April 13, 2011

13.0K
Spinal Cord Electrophysiology
04:59

Spinal Cord Electrophysiology

Published on: January 18, 2010

21.6K
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

3.5K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Systems Neuroscience

Background:

  • Locomotion is a fundamental motor behavior arising from integrated brain functions.
  • The brainstem serves as a critical interface between higher brain centers and spinal locomotor circuits.
  • Understanding brainstem control is key to comprehending innate, emotional, and motivational aspects of movement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding brainstem circuits that control locomotion.
  • To elucidate the role of delineated brainstem command circuits in governing locomotion.
  • To discuss the integration of brainstem pathways with spinal and forebrain areas for context-specific movement selection.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on brainstem locomotor control.
  • Analysis of studies detailing neural pathways involved in locomotion.
  • Synthesis of findings on brainstem-spinal cord and brainstem-forebrain interactions.

Main Results:

  • Brainstem command circuits are identified as key regulators for starting, stopping, adjusting speed, and steering locomotion.
  • These circuits effectively bridge executive spinal cord functions with diverse brain areas influencing movement.
  • A functional connectome of brainstem command circuits is highlighted as a critical need for further research.

Conclusions:

  • Brainstem circuits play a pivotal role in orchestrating complex locomotor behaviors.
  • Effective locomotion relies on the precise integration of brainstem command signals with spinal and forebrain networks.
  • Further investigation into the functional connectome is essential for a comprehensive understanding of locomotor control.