Activity of Red Nucleus Neurons in the Cat during Postural Corrections
Open Access
- 27 October 2010
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Society for Neuroscience in Journal of Neuroscience
- Vol. 30 (43), 14533-14542
- https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2991-10.2010
Abstract
The dorsal-side-up body posture in standing quadrupeds is maintained by the postural system, which includes spinal and supraspinal mechanisms driven by somatosensory inputs from the limbs. A number of descending tracts can transmit supraspinal commands for postural corrections. The first aim of this study was to understand whether the rubrospinal tract participates in their transmission. We recorded activity of red nucleus neurons (RNNs) in the cat maintaining balance on the periodically tilting platform. Most neurons were identified as rubrospinal ones. It was found that many RNNs were profoundly modulated by tilts, suggesting that they transmit postural commands. The second aim of this study was to examine the contribution of sensory inputs from individual limbs to posture-related RNN modulation. Each RNN was recorded during standing on all four limbs, as well as when two or three limbs were lifted from the platform and could not signal platform displacements. By comparing RNN responses in different tests, we found that the amplitude and phase of responses in the majority of RNNs were determined primarily by sensory input from the corresponding (fore or hind) contralateral limb, whereas inputs from other limbs made a much smaller contribution to RNN modulation. These findings suggest that the rubrospinal system is primarily involved in the intralimb postural coordination, i.e., in the feedback control of the corresponding limb and, to a lesser extent, in the interlimb coordination. This study provides a new insight into the formation of supraspinal motor commands for postural corrections.Keywords
This publication has 34 references indexed in Scilit:
- Ipsilateral actions from the feline red nucleus on hindlimb motoneuronesThe Journal of Physiology, 2008
- Spinal and supraspinal postural networksBrain Research Reviews, 2008
- Influences of sensory input from the limbs on feline corticospinal neurons during postural responsesThe Journal of Physiology, 2008
- Neural Bases of Postural ControlPhysiology, 2006
- Quantification of Motor Cortex Activity and Full-Body Biomechanics During Unconstrained LocomotionJournal of Neurophysiology, 2005
- Activity of Pyramidal Tract Neurons in the Cat During Postural CorrectionsJournal of Neurophysiology, 2005
- Postural Control in the Rabbit Maintaining Balance on the Tilting PlatformJournal of Neurophysiology, 2003
- Limb specific connections of the cat magnocellular red nucleusJournal of Comparative Neurology, 1987
- Circular Statistics in BiologyBiometrics, 1982
- Experimental demonstration of a somatotopical origin of rubrospinal fibers in the catJournal of Comparative Neurology, 1957