Current Biology,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
31(24), P. 5501 - 5511.e5
Published: Nov. 1, 2021
With
our
eyes
closed,
we
can
track
a
limb's
moment-to-moment
location
in
space.
If
this
capacity
relied
solely
on
sensory
feedback
from
the
limb,
would
always
be
step
behind
because
takes
time:
for
execution
of
rapid
and
precise
movements,
such
lags
are
not
tolerable.
Nervous
systems
solve
problem
by
computing
representations—or
internal
models—that
mimic
movements
as
they
happening,
with
associated
neural
activity
occurring
after
motor
command
but
before
feedback.
Research
adults
indicates
that
cerebellum
is
necessary
to
compute
models.
What
known,
however,
when—and
under
what
conditions—this
computational
develops.
Here,
taking
advantage
unique
kinematic
features
discrete,
spontaneous
limb
twitches
characterize
active
sleep,
captured
developmental
emergence
cerebellar-dependent
model.
Using
rats
at
postnatal
days
(P)
12,
P16,
P20,
compared
ventral
posterior
(VP)
lateral
(VL)
thalamic
nuclei,
both
which
receive
somatosensory
input
only
latter
receives
cerebellar
input.
At
all
ages,
twitch-related
VP
lagged
movement,
consistent
processing;
similar
was
observed
VL
through
P16.
no
longer
movement
instead
precisely
mimicked
itself;
depended
In
addition
demonstrating
models
these
findings
implicate
their
development
calibration
through,
least,
preweanling
period.
Cell,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
185(6), P. 1065 - 1081.e23
Published: March 1, 2022
Motor
behaviors
are
often
planned
long
before
execution
but
only
released
after
specific
sensory
events.
Planning
and
each
associated
with
distinct
patterns
of
motor
cortex
activity.
Key
questions
how
these
dynamic
activity
generated
they
relate
to
behavior.
Here,
we
investigate
the
multi-regional
neural
circuits
that
link
an
auditory
"Go
cue"
transition
from
planning
directional
licking.
Ascending
glutamatergic
neurons
in
midbrain
reticular
pedunculopontine
nuclei
show
short
latency
phasic
changes
spike
rate
selective
for
Go
cue.
This
signal
is
transmitted
via
thalamus
cortex,
where
it
triggers
a
rapid
reorganization
state
planning-related
command,
which
turn
drives
appropriate
movement.
Our
studies
can
control
cortical
dynamics
precise
Cell Reports,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
35(9), P. 109090 - 109090
Published: June 1, 2021
The
neural
mechanisms
that
generate
an
extensible
library
of
motor
motifs
and
flexibly
string
them
into
arbitrary
sequences
are
unclear.
We
developed
a
model
in
which
inhibitory
basal
ganglia
output
neurons
project
to
thalamic
units
themselves
bidirectionally
connected
recurrent
cortical
network.
the
patterns
as
silencing
some
while
leaving
others
disinhibited
free
interact
with
cortex
during
specific
motifs.
show
small
number
can
control
dynamics
noise-robust
way.
Additionally,
single
"preparatory"
thalamocortical
network
produce
fast
support
rapid
transitions
between
any
pair
learned
If
associated
each
sequence
component
segregated,
many
outputs
be
without
interference
then
combined
orders
for
flexible
production
long
complex
sequences.
Annual Review of Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
45(1), P. 249 - 271
Published: March 22, 2022
The
brain
plans
and
executes
volitional
movements.
underlying
patterns
of
neural
population
activity
have
been
explored
in
the
context
movements
eyes,
limbs,
tongue,
head
nonhuman
primates
rodents.
How
do
networks
neurons
produce
slow
dynamics
that
prepare
specific
fast
ultimately
initiate
these
movements?
Recent
work
exploits
rapid
calibrated
perturbations
to
test
dynamical
systems
models
are
capable
producing
observed
activity.
These
joint
experimental
computational
studies
show
cortical
during
motor
planning
reflect
fixed
points
(attractors).
Subcortical
control
signals
reshape
move
attractors
over
multiple
timescales,
causing
commitment
actions
transitions
movement
execution.
Experiments
rodents
beginning
reveal
how
algorithms
implemented
at
level
brain-wide
circuits.
Journal of Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
42(45), P. 8406 - 8415
Published: Nov. 9, 2022
Both
the
cerebellum
and
basal
ganglia
are
known
for
their
roles
in
motor
control
motivated
behavior.
These
two
systems
have
been
classically
considered
as
independent
structures
that
coordinate
contributions
to
behavior
via
separate
cortico-thalamic
loops.
However,
recent
evidence
demonstrates
presence
of
a
rich
set
direct
connections
between
these
regions.
Although
there
is
strong
both
directions,
brevity
we
limit
our
discussion
better-characterized
from
ganglia.
We
review
sets
such
connections:
disynaptic
projections
through
thalamus
monosynaptic
midbrain
dopaminergic
nuclei,
VTA
SNc.
In
each
case,
pathways
anatomic
tracing
physiological
recordings,
discuss
potential
functional
roles.
present
pathway
involved
coordination,
its
dysfunction
contributes
deficits,
dystonia.
then
how
cerebellar
SNc
influence
dopamine
release
respective
targets
nuclei:
NAc
dorsal
striatum.
argue
may
play
role
reward-based
learning
therefore
contribute
addictive
behavior,
whereas
projection
movement
vigor.
Finally,
speculate
explain
many
observations
indicate
mental
disorders,
schizophrenia.
Nature Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
25(10), P. 1339 - 1352
Published: Sept. 28, 2022
Neurons
in
frontal
cortex
exhibit
diverse
selectivity
representing
sensory,
motor
and
cognitive
variables
during
decision-making.
The
neural
circuit
basis
for
this
complex
remains
unclear.
We
examined
activity
mediating
a
tactile
decision
mouse
anterior
lateral
relation
to
the
underlying
circuits.
Contrary
notion
of
randomly
mixed
selectivity,
an
analysis
20,000
neurons
revealed
organized
coding
behavior.
Individual
exhibited
prototypical
response
profiles
that
were
repeatable
across
mice.
Stimulus,
choice
action
coded
nonrandomly
by
distinct
neuronal
populations
could
be
delineated
their
profiles.
related
long-range
inputs
from
somatosensory
cortex,
contralateral
thalamus.
Each
input
connects
all
functional
but
with
differing
strength.
Task
was
more
strongly
dependent
on
thalamic
than
cortico-cortical
inputs.
Our
results
suggest
thalamus
drives
subnetworks
within
features
