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Direct and indirect spino-cerebellar pathways: shared ideas but different functions in motor control.

Jiang, Juan ; Azim, Eiman ; Ekerot, Carl-Fredrik LU and Alstermark, Bror (2015) In Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience 9.
Abstract
The impressive precision of mammalian limb movements relies on internal feedback pathways that convey information about ongoing motor output to cerebellar circuits. The spino-cerebellar tracts (SCT) in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal cord have long been considered canonical neural substrates for the conveyance of internal feedback signals. Here we consider the distinct features of an indirect spino-cerebellar route, via the brainstem lateral reticular nucleus (LRN), and the implications of this pre-cerebellar "detour" for the execution and evolution of limb motor control. Both direct and indirect spino-cerebellar pathways signal spinal interneuronal activity to the cerebellum during movements, but evidence suggests that direct SCT... (More)
The impressive precision of mammalian limb movements relies on internal feedback pathways that convey information about ongoing motor output to cerebellar circuits. The spino-cerebellar tracts (SCT) in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal cord have long been considered canonical neural substrates for the conveyance of internal feedback signals. Here we consider the distinct features of an indirect spino-cerebellar route, via the brainstem lateral reticular nucleus (LRN), and the implications of this pre-cerebellar "detour" for the execution and evolution of limb motor control. Both direct and indirect spino-cerebellar pathways signal spinal interneuronal activity to the cerebellum during movements, but evidence suggests that direct SCT neurons are mainly modulated by rhythmic activity, whereas the LRN also receives information from systems active during postural adjustment, reaching and grasping. Thus, while direct and indirect spino-cerebellar circuits can both be regarded as internal copy pathways, it seems likely that the direct system is principally dedicated to rhythmic motor acts like locomotion, while the indirect system also provides a means of pre-cerebellar integration relevant to the execution and coordination of dexterous limb movements. (Less)
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author
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience
volume
9
article number
75
publisher
Frontiers Media S. A.
external identifiers
  • pmid:26217214
  • wos:000358731000001
  • scopus:84936971109
  • pmid:26217214
ISSN
1662-5188
DOI
10.3389/fncom.2015.00075
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a1d744ce-fad2-4d7a-ac02-48d9f783182a (old id 7699840)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26217214?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:26:55
date last changed
2022-03-14 00:08:23
@article{a1d744ce-fad2-4d7a-ac02-48d9f783182a,
  abstract     = {{The impressive precision of mammalian limb movements relies on internal feedback pathways that convey information about ongoing motor output to cerebellar circuits. The spino-cerebellar tracts (SCT) in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal cord have long been considered canonical neural substrates for the conveyance of internal feedback signals. Here we consider the distinct features of an indirect spino-cerebellar route, via the brainstem lateral reticular nucleus (LRN), and the implications of this pre-cerebellar "detour" for the execution and evolution of limb motor control. Both direct and indirect spino-cerebellar pathways signal spinal interneuronal activity to the cerebellum during movements, but evidence suggests that direct SCT neurons are mainly modulated by rhythmic activity, whereas the LRN also receives information from systems active during postural adjustment, reaching and grasping. Thus, while direct and indirect spino-cerebellar circuits can both be regarded as internal copy pathways, it seems likely that the direct system is principally dedicated to rhythmic motor acts like locomotion, while the indirect system also provides a means of pre-cerebellar integration relevant to the execution and coordination of dexterous limb movements.}},
  author       = {{Jiang, Juan and Azim, Eiman and Ekerot, Carl-Fredrik and Alstermark, Bror}},
  issn         = {{1662-5188}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Frontiers Media S. A.}},
  series       = {{Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience}},
  title        = {{Direct and indirect spino-cerebellar pathways: shared ideas but different functions in motor control.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fncom.2015.00075}},
  doi          = {{10.3389/fncom.2015.00075}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}