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

Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

2.6K
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.
2.6K
Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

1.9K
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...
1.9K
Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

1.5K
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...
1.5K
Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay01:27

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

1.5K
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...
1.5K
Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways01:29

Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways

4.3K
Somatic sensory or somatosensory pathways refer to the neural pathways that carry information related to touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and proprioception from the skin, muscles, tendons, and joints to the brain. These pathways involve several stages of processing and integration of sensory information.
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...
4.3K
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

3.7K
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.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
3.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Presynaptic control of top-down signaling in neocortical layer 1.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Closed-Loop Connectivity Best Supports Angular Tuning and Sleep Dynamics in a Biophysical Thalamocortical Circuit Model.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Functional Dynamics and Selectivity of Two Parallel Corticocortical Pathways from Motor Cortex to Layer 5 Circuits in Somatosensory Cortex.

eNeuro·2024
Same author

Motor Control of Distinct Layer 6 Corticothalamic Feedback Circuits.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2024
Same author

Functional dynamics and selectivity of two parallel corticocortical pathways from motor cortex to layer 5 circuits in somatosensory cortex.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2024
Same author

State-Dependent Modulation of Activity in Distinct Layer 6 Corticothalamic Neurons in Barrel Cortex of Awake Mice.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2025

Force and Position Control in Humans - The Role of Augmented Feedback
06:31

Force and Position Control in Humans - The Role of Augmented Feedback

Published on: June 19, 2016

7.8K

Motor Control of Distinct Layer 6 Corticothalamic Feedback Circuits.

Luis E Martinetti1, Dawn M Autio2, Shane R Crandall3,2

  • 1Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824.

Eneuro
|June 26, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Layer 6 corticothalamic (L6 CT) neurons in the mouse vibrissal cortex show distinct responses to motor cortex input. This suggests specialized subcircuits for modulating sensory information during active movements.

Keywords:
corticothalamicexcitabilityneuronal circuitryneurophysiologysensory systemsynapses

More Related Videos

In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior
07:52

In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior

Published on: November 22, 2021

3.3K
Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention
09:48

Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention

Published on: September 11, 2017

9.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2025

Force and Position Control in Humans - The Role of Augmented Feedback
06:31

Force and Position Control in Humans - The Role of Augmented Feedback

Published on: June 19, 2016

7.8K
In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior
07:52

In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior

Published on: November 22, 2021

3.3K
Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention
09:48

Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention

Published on: September 11, 2017

9.9K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Processing
  • Cortical Circuits

Background:

  • Layer 6 corticothalamic (L6 CT) neurons provide feedback to the thalamus, influencing sensory input.
  • The functional role and control mechanisms of this feedback, especially concerning distinct CT neuron populations, remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how the vibrissal primary motor cortex (vM1) influences different L6 CT neuron subcircuits in the vibrissal primary somatosensory cortex (vS1).
  • To determine if vM1 control is specific to CT neurons with distinct thalamic connectivity.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro electrophysiology
  • Optogenetics
  • Retrograde labeling in mice (either sex)

Main Results:

  • vM1 inputs selectively target L6 CT neurons projecting to both VPm and POm nuclei more strongly than those projecting only to VPm.
  • Dual-projecting CT neurons exhibit greater responsiveness due to distinct intrinsic membrane properties and synaptic mechanisms.
  • vS1 comprises at least two discrete L6 CT subcircuits with unique projection patterns, physiology, and vM1 connectivity.

Conclusions:

  • vS1 contains distinct L6 CT subcircuits differentiated by thalamic targets and motor cortex connectivity.
  • These findings offer insights into how specific CT subcircuits may modulate tactile sensory signals in the thalamus during active whisking.