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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 31, 2026

In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior

In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior

Published on: November 22, 2021

Corticothalamic communication for action coordination in a skilled motor behavior.

Yi Li^1,2, Xu An^1,2, Patrick J Mulcahey^1,3

¹Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.

Nature Neuroscience

|January 29, 2026

Summary

Researchers identified a key motor cortex circuit coordinating skilled movements like reaching and drinking in mice. This circuit, involving corticothalamic (CT^MOs) neurons, enhances communication between brain areas for seamless action progression and hand-mouth coordination.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Motor Control
Systems Neuroscience

Background:

Coordinating forelimb and orofacial movements for behaviors like feeding requires complex neural communication across brain regions.
Understanding the specific neural circuits involved in skilled motor behaviors is crucial for deciphering brain function.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify the cortical network coordinating action progression in a mouse reach-and-withdraw-to-drink (RWD) behavior.
To investigate the differential roles of specific projection neuron types and output channels within the secondary motor cortex (MOs-c).

Main Methods:

Wide-field imaging and photoinhibition across the cortex to survey neural activity.
Electrophysiology and targeted photoinhibition within the MOs-c to study projection neuron types.
Analysis of reach-and-withdraw-to-drink (RWD) behavior in mice.

Main Results:

A specific cortical network, including the MOs-c, was identified as coordinating RWD behavior progression.
Corticothalamic (CT^MOs) output channels, but not pyramidal tract channels, showed differential contributions to action progression and hand-mouth coordination.
CT^MOs neurons exhibited sustained firing during RWD actions and selectively enhanced activity in postsynaptic thalamus neurons, which also contribute to action coordination.

Conclusions:

The motor cortex CT channel plays a selective role in amplifying thalamic integration of sensorimotor information.
This amplification is critical for coordinating skilled motor behaviors by integrating cortical and subcortical inputs.
The identified CT^MOs-thalamus pathway is a key component for coordinating complex, ethological motor actions.