Future spinal reflex is embedded in primary motor cortex output.

ABSTRACT: Mammals can execute intended limb movements despite the fact that spinal reflexes involuntarily modulate muscle activity. To generate appropriate muscle activity, the cortical descending motor output must coordinate with spinal reflexes, yet the underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. We simultaneously recorded activities in motor-related cortical areas, afferent neurons, and forelimb muscles of monkeys performing reaching movements. Motor-related cortical areas, predominantly primary motor cortex (M1), encode subsequent afferent activities attributed to forelimb movement. M1 also encodes a subcomponent of muscle activity evoked by these afferent activities, corresponding to spinal reflexes. Furthermore, selective disruption of the afferent pathway specifically reduced this subcompone

SUBMITTER: Umeda T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11654683 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature