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Related Concept Videos

Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

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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.
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Direct Motor Pathways01:11

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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.
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Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay01:27

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

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The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is  a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological...
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Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

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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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Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

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Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
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Diversity in Cell Signaling Responses01:22

Diversity in Cell Signaling Responses

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The physiological function of a cell and cellular communication are outcomes of a range of extrinsic signals, intracellular signaling pathways, and cellular responses. No two cell types express the same repertoire of signaling components. Receptors are highly selective for their cognate ligands, but once activated, they can alter multiple cellular processes such as DNA transcription, protein synthesis, and metabolic activity. 
Graded and Abrupt Responses
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2025

In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior
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Multiple dynamic interactions from basal ganglia direct and indirect pathways mediate action selection.

Hao Li1, Xin Jin1,2,3

  • 1Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, United States.

Elife
|September 26, 2023
PubMed
Summary

The basal ganglia

Keywords:
action selectionbasal gangliamouseneuroscienceoptogenetics

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Systems Neuroscience

Background:

  • The basal ganglia are critical for selecting actions.
  • The distinct roles of the direct and indirect pathways within the basal ganglia for action selection are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional roles of the direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglia in controlling action selection.
  • To propose a novel model for basal ganglia function in action selection.

Main Methods:

  • Cell-type-specific neuronal recordings in mice during a choice task.
  • In vivo manipulation of neuronal activity.
  • Behavioral analysis of action selection.

Main Results:

  • Both direct and indirect pathways dynamically interact to control action selection.
  • The direct pathway shows linear control over behavioral choice.
  • The indirect pathway exhibits nonlinear, inverted-U-shaped control over action selection, influenced by network state and inputs.

Conclusions:

  • A new 'Triple-control' model (center-surround-context) integrating direct and indirect pathway functions is proposed.
  • This model explains previously unexplained physiological and behavioral data.
  • Findings advance understanding of basal ganglia circuitry and action selection in health and disease.