Structured Variability in Purkinje Cell Activity during Locomotion.

ABSTRACT: The cerebellum is a prominent vertebrate brain structure that is critically involved in sensorimotor function. During locomotion, cerebellar Purkinje cells are rhythmically active, shaping descending signals and coordinating commands from higher brain areas with the step cycle. However, the variation in this activity across steps has not been studied, and its statistical structure, afferent mechanisms, and relationship to behavior remain unknown. Here, using multi-electrode recordings in freely moving rats, we show that behavioral variables systematically influence the shape of the step-locked firing rate. This effect depends strongly on the phase of the step cycle and reveals a functional clustering of Purkinje cells. Furthermore, we find a pronounced disassociation between patterns of va

SUBMITTER: Sauerbrei BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4708059 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature