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Related Concept Videos

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

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The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
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The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at...
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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Author Spotlight: Investigating Mouse Motor Cortex Interactions from Muscle Activity to Neural Dynamics
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Structural and functional map for forelimb movement phases between cortex and medulla.

Wuzhou Yang1, Harsh Kanodia1, Silvia Arber1

  • 1Biozentrum, Department of Cell Biology, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.

Cell
|January 7, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study maps connections between the anterior cortex (AC) and medulla, revealing how specific cortical areas control distinct forelimb movements like reaching and handling. The findings clarify brain region interactions for skilled motor control.

Keywords:
behaviorbrainstemmedullamotor controlmotor cortexneuronal activityneuronal circuitsneuronal subpopulationsskilled forelimb movement

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Cortical-Brainstem Interactions

Background:

  • The cortex exerts top-down control over movement via projections to various nervous system regions.
  • Brainstem circuitry in the medulla is crucial for skilled forelimb movements, but cortical interactions remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To map the anatomical and functional connections between the anterior cortex (AC) and the medulla in mice.
  • To elucidate the logic of cortical interactions with medullary neurons controlling forelimb movements.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed anatomical mapping of synaptic columns between anterior cortex and lateral medulla.
  • Functional characterization using silencing techniques to assess the impact on specific forelimb actions (reaching, handling).

Main Results:

  • Distinct anterior cortex regions form 3D synaptic columns in the lateral medulla, topographically aligned with medullary neurons.
  • Medial AC (MAC) targets ventral neurons controlling reaching, while lateral AC (LAC) targets dorsal neurons for food handling.
  • Silencing MAC impairs reaching, and silencing LAC impairs food handling, demonstrating functional specificity.

Conclusions:

  • A precise topographical and functional map exists between anterior cortex and medulla for forelimb control.
  • Specific cortical areas map to distinct medullary neuron populations tuned to specific action phases.
  • Cortico-medullary neurons utilize segregated channels for interaction with other subcortical structures.