Widefield cortical activity and functional connectivity during motorized locomotion.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Systems Neuroscience

Background:

• Sensory-motor integration is crucial for movement but its underlying cortical mechanisms are not fully understood.
• The role of internally driven brain activity and its correlation with external signals during locomotion requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how internally driven cortical activity and functional connectivity change during locomotion on different track types.
• To determine the influence of gait kinematics and track environment on sensory-motor integration.

Main Methods:

• Mice locomotion was analyzed on motorized treadmill, wheel, and disk setups.
• Cortical activity and functional connectivity were assessed, dissociating internally driven signals from behavioral variables.
• Analysis focused on spatial patterns of cortical connectivity and specific brain region activity (medial M2).

Main Results:

• No significant differences in original or internally driven cortical activity were observed across track types.
• The spatial pattern of internally driven cortical connectivity varied significantly depending on the track type.
• Internally driven functional connectivity in medial M2 regions decreased during treadmill locomotion, suggesting inhibitory control.

Conclusions:

• Stable locomotion on a linear runway relies on successful internal sensory-motor integration, mediated by inhibitory control in M2.
• Cortical functional connectivity patterns during locomotion are influenced by gait kinematics and environmental context.
• Understanding locomotion-related health and disorders necessitates considering internally driven activity and widefield cortical connectivity.