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Related Concept Videos

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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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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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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...
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Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

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Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
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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
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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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In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior
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The superior colliculus directs goal-oriented forelimb movements.

Shrivas Chaterji1, Punarva H Belliappa1, Anupama Sathyamurthy1

  • 1Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560012, India.

Cell Reports
|December 26, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The superior colliculus (SC) is crucial for precise forelimb reaching. This midbrain structure, particularly its lateral region, plays a causal role in guiding accurate movements, as demonstrated in mouse models.

Keywords:
CP: Neurosciencechemogeneticsclosed-loop optogeneticsdroplet-retreival taskfiber photometryforelimb reachingmotor circuitsmovementsensorimotor transformationskilled forelimb controlsuperior colliculus

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Systems Neuroscience

Background:

  • Skilled forelimb control is vital for daily activities.
  • Neural mechanisms underlying precise motor actions remain incompletely understood.
  • The superior colliculus (SC) is a key midbrain structure implicated in sensorimotor functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the necessity and role of the superior colliculus (SC) in accurate forelimb reaching.
  • To identify specific neural pathways and neuronal populations within the SC that contribute to reach accuracy.
  • To elucidate the functional interactions between the SC and other brain regions, such as the substantia nigra and cerebellum, in motor control.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized chemogenetics and optogenetics to selectively silence neurons in the lateral SC of mice during reaching tasks.
  • Performed anatomical tracing studies to identify inputs to the SC from the deep cerebellar nuclei and substantia nigra pars reticulata.
  • Conducted functional experiments to assess the role of nigrotectal and cerebellotectal pathways in controlling reach endpoints.

Main Results:

  • Neurons in the lateral SC exhibit activity during goal-directed forelimb reaching.
  • Chemogenetic and optogenetic silencing of lateral SC neurons significantly impaired reach accuracy.
  • The nigrotectal pathway, but not the cerebellotectal pathway, was found to influence reach endpoints.
  • Silencing the nigrotectal pathway resulted in paw deviations opposite to those observed after SC silencing.

Conclusions:

  • The superior colliculus (SC) is causally essential for accurate forelimb reaching in mice.
  • The SC, particularly its lateral region, plays a critical role in regulating the precision of goal-directed movements.
  • The nigrotectal pathway is a key component of the SC-mediated motor control system for reaching.
  • These findings highlight the coordinated function of the substantia nigra and SC in achieving optimal forelimb control.