Cortical sculpting of a rhythmic motor program.

ABSTRACT: Motor cortex is the principal driver of discrete, voluntary movements like reaching. Correspondingly, current theories describe muscle activity as a function of cortical dynamics. Tasks like speech and locomotion, however, require the integration of voluntary commands with ongoing movements orchestrated by largely independent subcortical centers. In such cases, motor cortex must receive inputs representing the state of the environment and the state of subcortical networks, then transform these inputs into commands that modulate the rhythmic motor pattern. Here, we study this transformation in mice performing an obstacle traversal task, which combines a spinal locomotor pattern with voluntary cortical adjustments. Cortical dynamics contain a prominent representation of motor preparation tha

SUBMITTER: Kirk EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12262244 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature