Engagement of the Rat Hindlimb Motor Cortex across Natural Locomotor Behaviors.

ABSTRACT: Contrary to cats and primates, cortical contribution to hindlimb locomotor movements is not critical in rats. However, the importance of the motor cortex to regain locomotion after neurological disorders in rats suggests that cortical engagement in hindlimb motor control may depend on the behavioral context. To investigate this possibility, we recorded whole-body kinematics, muscle synergies, and hindlimb motor cortex modulation in freely moving rats performing a range of natural locomotor procedures. We found that the activation of hindlimb motor cortex preceded gait initiation. During overground locomotion, the motor cortex exhibited consistent neuronal population responses that were synchronized with the spatiotemporal activation of hindlimb motoneurons. Behaviors requiring enhanced mus

SUBMITTER: DiGiovanna J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6705591 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature