Motor Control Flashcards
Stellate cells
Receive thalamocortical input.
What are areas with lots of stellate cells called?
Granular cortex
Is the primary cortex more granular or agranular?
Agranular (small layer 4, with a large 5th layer)
Where are stellate cells found?
Layer 4 of the 6 layers
Where are pyramidal cells found?
Layer 5
Pyramidal cells
Neurons that project out of the cortex. Projects out of the brainstem and into the spinal cord.
Betz cells
Really big pyramidal cells, distinguish the motor cortex
Area 4
Primary motor cortex
Area 6
Premotor cortex
Parts of area 8
Visual field
What do the frontal eye fields do?
Gaze control, image stabilization, changing fixation
How do the frontal eye fields work on image stabilization?
Fixation, VOR, optokinetic response
How do the frontal eye fields change fixation?
Saccades, smooth pursuit, vergence, cancellation of VOR
What is the horizontal component of gaze control?
Paramedian pontine reticular formation (PPRF)/ horizontal gaze center
What is the vertical component of gaze control?
Rostral interstitial nucleus of the medial longitundinal fasiculus/ vertical gaze center
Saccades
Ballistic eye movements occur (can’t stop once they start). Can be voluntary or automatic. Need to be bilateral
PPRF projects where?
To the ipsilateral abducens and contralateral CN III (via medial longitudinal fasciculus)
Where do the frontal eye fields project?
To the contralateral PPRF and the vertical gaze center. Does this directly or via the superior colliculus
Frontal eye field injury
- Loss of voluntary saccades to the contralateral side
- Eyes deviate to the side of the lesion
- Can’t move gaze away from stimulus
- Symptoms may resolve over time
Superior colliculus
Important for orienting to a stimulus (via tectospinal tract) for involuntary saccades
Functional organization of primary motor cortex (M1)
- Stimulation usually evokes simple movement of ind. body part (NOT ind. muscle)
- Movement evoked at low stimulus intensity
What is movement being evoked at a low stimulus intensity indicative of?
Large, direct pathway to brainstem and LMNs
Primary motor cortex function
Force, direction, extent, velocity
Premotor cortex inputs
Supplementary motor area
Cingulate motor area
Prefrontal cortex (planning, learning, executive function)
Posterior parietal cortex
Cerebellum and basal ganglia via thalamus