Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 457, Issue 1, 2 August 1988, Pages 181-187
Brain Research

Motor cortical cell discharge during voluntary gait modification

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(88)90073-XGet rights and content

Abstract

Kinematic and electromyographic data were recorded together with motor cortical cell discharge during a task which required the cat to modify its gait in order to step over 3 different types of obstacles fixed to a moving treadmill belt. In order to negotiate the obstacles the cat made large adjustments in limb trajectory which were associated with equally large changes in forelimb flexor muscle activity. Sixteen of 57 identified pyramidal tract neurones recorded from area 4 of two cats increased their peak discharge rate during this gait adjustment. It is suggested that the motor cortex plays a role in adjusting the flexor muscle activity to the requirements of the locomotor task.

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This work was supported by the Fonds de Recherche en Sante´du Que´bec (FRSQ) and by the Canadian MRC.

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I would like to thank Dr. S. Rossignol for his helpful comments on his work and Messrs. S. Bergeron and R. Bouchoux for the construction of the electrical and mechanical apparatus. Mr. S. Doucet is thanked for his programming assistance, G. Filosi for artwork, D. Cyr for photography, R. St.-Jaques for technical assistance, and Drs. J. Kalaska and A. Smith for their helpful comments on the manuscript.

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