Velocity signals related to hand movements recorded from red nucleus neurons in monkeys

Neural activity of the red nucleus was studied in monkeys trained to operate devices requiring shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, or finger movements. Single cell activity was more closely related to movements of the hand and fingers than to movements of the other joints. Discharge consistently preceded movements by a constant time interval; duration of discharge was highly correlated with the duration of movement; and discharge rate was highly correlated with movement velocity. These data suggest a role for the rubrospinal pathway in the initiation and control of hand movements.