Articles tagged with Motor Cortex
A new study reveals that astrocytes actively participate in motor-learning circuit rewiring by eliminating synapses in the striatum. The research identifies MEGF10 as a key molecular mediator of this process, which is regulated by dopamine signaling and neural activity.
A team of researchers, led by Jean-Paul Noel, has discovered that the brain's motor area largely coincides with the onset of intention. The study used a brain-machine interface to separate intentions from actions in a paralyzed participant, revealing a compressed temporal binding between intention and action.
A study by Dr. LEE Seung-Hee reveals how the brain dynamically adjusts sensory input prioritization depending on movement, with vision taking priority for navigation. The posterior parietal cortex and secondary motor cortex play key roles in this process.
A recent study by Janelia researchers found that the striatum and motor cortex collaborate to specify movement parameters, contradicting traditional theories. This discovery sheds light on the role of the striatum in motor control and could lead to better understanding of movement disorders like Parkinson's and Huntington's.
Researchers discovered a horizontally distributed and modular organization of cortical movement units, with different types of neurons forming functional clusters in distinct regions. The study also found that the brain re-networks and adapts to learn new motor skills.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have made groundbreaking discoveries about levodopa-induced dyskinesia, a common complication in Parkinson's disease patients. The study found that the motor cortex becomes disconnected during dyskinetic episodes, leading to indirect causation rather than direct involvement.
Researchers mapped auditory corollary discharge signals in the brain's motor cortex to better understand human speech and hallucinations in schizophrenia. Disruptions to this system are thought to be hallmarks of auditory hallucinations, offering a new explanation for the source of these symptoms.
Researchers at MIT have discovered additional brain pathways that modulate dopamine release, influencing movement and emotional decisions. The newly identified pathways appear to relay emotional information that helps shape motivation to take action.
Researchers have found two distinct maps in the brain's secondary motor cortex that enable spatial planning and navigation, with implications for understanding neurological conditions such as stroke. The study discovered a self-centred map used for planning actions and a world-centred map used to determine body position in the world.
CNIO researchers have discovered a 'switch' for the desire to engage in physical activity, revealing a muscle-brain pathway that controls eagerness to train more when we exercise. Two proteins, p38α and p38γ, get activated in the muscle during exercise, influencing interest in physical activity.
Researchers have uncovered new insights into how the brain regulates imitative behavior, a phenomenon that facilitates interaction and social cohesion. The study used advanced brain stimulation technique to pinpoint the causal role of different circuits in facilitating or inhibiting automatic imitation.
Researchers found that repetitive practice leads to changes in working memory circuits, making them more stable and refined. The study's findings have implications for addressing memory-related disorders.
A new study reveals that pauses in speech can provide information about how people's brains plan and produce speech. The research found that neighboring brain regions play a crucial role in speech planning, with longer latencies corresponding to planning and shorter latencies indicating physical mechanics of speaking.
A study by Fujita Health University researchers unveiled novel insights into the brain's processing of movement and sensation. The findings suggest that signals from motor cortices do not primarily modulate sensory responses in primary sensory cortices, but rather pathways from secondary somatosensory cortex (S2) and sensory thalamus (...
Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas discovered distinct changes in brain network patterns associated with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, affecting sensory and motor processing. These findings offer new insights into the broader impact of Alzheimer’s on brain function and potential targets for treatment.
Researchers investigate centro-cingulate network changes and cholinergic innervation deficits in Parkinson disease and normal aging. Studies reveal significant correlations between centro-cingulate changes and cognitive impairments, motor symptoms, and age.
A neglected brain region has been identified as a key player in addiction recovery. The supplementary motor cortex was found to be hyperexcitable in individuals with cocaine use disorders, even after withdrawal periods of 45 days. This discovery may lead to new treatment approaches using transcranial magnetic stimulation.
A study from the University of Chicago uses machine learning to record intricate tongue movements and neural activity, revealing that brain patterns can accurately predict 3D tongue shape. This breakthrough could lead to brain-computer interface-based prosthetics for restoring lost functions of feeding and speech.
Scientists used paired-pulse TMS to condition brain responses in a group of 75 people, finding that listening to a tone triggered muscle contraction in the thumb. The study suggests TMS could be used therapeutically to improve mobility in Parkinson's disease patients or treat depression.
Researchers studied brain activity in rats as they learned a fine motor task, discovering synchronous low-frequency oscillatory activity that coordinated neural spiking in the motor cortex and cerebellum. This activity may serve as a biomarker for skill learning and a target for electric stimulation to promote motor recovery after stroke.
Researchers have found evidence that high frequency brain waves in the motor cortex contain information about planned movements, providing a new understanding of how the brain controls movement. The study's findings could inform the development of brain-machine interfaces and reveal new insights into cortical function.
During sleep, brain regions synchronize to create motor memory by reviewing trials and errors of a given action. The study found that the
The study found conserved structures of neuronal activity in the sensorimotor cortex of freely moving rats, revealing a clear gradient for contralateral bias. This breakthrough helps understand brain control of movements under natural conditions and enables further development of neuroprosthetic devices.
The DiaQNOS project aims to develop quantum sensors for improved brain tumor surgery. Magnetic field sensors will refine neuronavigation, enabling more precise incision paths. Researchers from Mainz University and partners will create a device suitable for use in surgery.
A University of Ottawa research team has made new discoveries on how motor skills are learned and stored in the brain. By studying mice, they found that a specific transcription factor called NPAS4 regulates gene changes in inhibitory neurons, leading to the formation of learning-associated neuron ensembles.
A new study by neuroscientists at MIT's Picower Institute finds that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and motor cortex collaborate to update understanding and behavior when a task requires more steps. The ACC helps M2 adjust to new rules, but reduced activity leads to increased negative outcome encoding cells' activity in M2.
Researchers found that the brain's cortex uses principles of calculus to implement a 'stop' signal, allowing for quick and precise decision-making in goal-directed behaviors. The study reveals how the brain integrates learned rules with sensory information to guide actions.
The study reveals that top-down information from the higher-order motor cortex to the primary motor cortex is crucial for motor learning, while newly formed synapses in the thalamus store acquired motor memories. This challenge to the widely held view suggests a two-step process for motor skill learning.
Researchers found that transcranial brain stimulation can improve accuracy and speed in older adults, facilitating the emergence of efficient motor chunks. The study suggests that this non-invasive technique may restore motor skill acquisition in individuals with diminished learning mechanisms.
Researchers discovered 'replay' during slow-wave sleep in a person with tetraplegia, suggesting the brain practices newly learned information through neuronal firing. This finding may help guide the development of new therapies and tools for people with neurologic diseases and injuries.
Researchers at UC Davis and UC Berkeley have mapped the full motor cortex of Egyptian fruit bats, showing that brain areas represent common synergies of muscles rather than individual muscles. This study highlights the unique motor control abilities of these bats, which use their tongue to echolocate and aim sonar beams.
Researchers mapped neural networks in marmoset and macaque monkeys to find that multiple areas in the frontal lobe control vocalization, contradicting a long-held view. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of speech disorders such as stuttering and apraxia.
Dartmouth researchers identified a new type of neuron in the rat brain that facilitates visual and spatial processing by tracking visual landmarks. The postrhinal cortex neurons can fire in two directions depending on the environment, allowing rats to estimate their direction.
Researchers found that brain activity in children with arthrogryposis is different from healthy controls, with increased motor neuron activity and less precise movements. Non-invasive brain stimulation may be a possible rehabilitation strategy to help them start movements.
Researchers at OHSU have discovered a unique neural cell assembly that enables complex learning in songbirds, similar to those found in the human primary motor cortex. This finding has implications for understanding fine motor control and may lead to new avenues for treating disorders such as ALS.
Recent Mason bioengineering research appears as cover articles in Nature, discussing cell census and atlas of the motor cortex. The studies aim to develop technologies for investigating neural circuits and understanding brain diseases.
Researchers identify 116 types of cells in the primary motor cortex, a significant step towards creating a comprehensive brain atlas. The findings aim to understand how neural networks control movement and cognition, and could lead to new therapies for neurologic and neuropsychiatric diseases.
The NIH BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network has published an atlas of cell types and neuronal wiring diagram for the mammalian primary motor cortex, derived from detailed studies of mice, monkeys, and humans. This comprehensive resource provides a foundation for further study of cell types in the rest of the brain.
Researchers from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have published a comprehensive census of cell types in the primary motor cortex of human, mouse, and monkey brains. This milestone could lead to breakthroughs in studying and treating conditions like schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer's, and traumatic brain injuries.
Scientists discovered that recurrent neural networks (RNNs) play a crucial role in the frontal cortex, responsible for decision-making, expressive language, and voluntary movement. The research also found that RNNs are more complex than previously thought, with a unidirectional structure.
Researchers found that sleep twitches guide the transformation of redundant to complex electrical activity in the motor cortex of rat pups. By four days after birth, sleep twitches are essential for developing this neural network, marking a key developmental transition.
A brain-computer interface that mimics tactile sensation has significantly improved robotic arm control for a person with tetraplegia, performing tasks comparable to able-bodied humans. The new system, which reads and writes neural activity, reduces trial times by half compared to previous versions.
New research from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh examines how changes in internal states like engagement affect learning. The study found that fluctuations in neural activity are influenced by shifts in internal states, suggesting a key role for engagement in learning.
University of Ottawa researchers discovered a shortage in noradrenaline released to the motor cortex from the locus coeruleus, leading to delayed motor learning in autistic children. This delay can cause social isolation and may be overlooked due to its similarity to social deficits.
Researchers have discovered a new pathway in the brain that provides pain relief and reduces opioid cravings. The study found that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targeting the motor cortex was significantly more effective at reducing pain and opioid urge than targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).
Researchers found that the brain's ability to recover and rewire itself peaks around two weeks after a stroke and diminishes over time. This 'window of opportunity' suggests that initiating therapy as soon as possible is crucial for effective recovery.
Researchers at UC Riverside identified a cortical region in mice that transforms sensory input into movement, opening new directions for studying sensory-motor transformations. The discovery could lead to targeted therapy for patients with sensory- and motor-related brain deficits.
Researchers at the University of Chicago challenged a popular theory on neural population dynamics, finding different activity patterns in the motor cortex for reaching and grasping behaviors. The study, published in E-Life, revealed less orderly neuronal activity patterns during grasping motions compared to reaching movements.
Researchers identified areas of the brain that regulate efforts to deal with fatigue, which could lead to new strategies for healthy individuals and therapies for those with depression, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. The study used MRI scans and computer modeling to analyze brain activity and behavior in participants.
Researchers successfully used optogenetics to induce arm movements in Japanese macaque monkeys by activating specific neuronal cells. This breakthrough study opens doors for future optogenetic studies and potential clinical applications in human patients.
New research reveals that weightlifting strengthens the reticulospinal tract, a neural pathway controlling posture and movement. The study, published in JNeurosci, found that increased strength is driven by strengthened signaling in this pathway.
A team of researchers from the University of Toronto has delayed the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in mice by preventing neuron degeneration. The result, combined with other clinical advances, holds promise for a potential treatment for ALS in humans.
Researchers used microelectrode arrays implanted in brains of two individuals with chronic tetraplegia to map motor functions down to single nerve cells. The study found that an area previously thought to control only one body part actually operates across a wide range of motor functions, demonstrating coordination between neurons.
Scientists at the University of Chicago discovered that signals in the motor cortex act like a series of clutches when it comes to moving, and that these signals can be disrupted to slow the brain's initiation of movement. This finding has potential implications for treatments of Parkinson's disease.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered how different brain cell types in the striatum respond to sensory inputs and motor commands, shedding new light on how we align our movements with sensory feedback. The study reveals distinct receptor compositions and response patterns among five striatal neuron populations.
Research in mice reveals the motor cortex needs continuous feedback to generate dexterous movements, unlike other neural circuits that can operate with sustained input. The study found blocking incoming signals or disrupting rhythmic patterns impaired grasping skills, highlighting the importance of precise timing and signal processing.
Research shows that drawing and recognizing objects recruits the same neural representation in the brain, emphasizing the role of visual processing. This neural connection enhances over time with repeated practice.
Researchers found that mice no longer use the primary motor cortex to control movements once they have mastered a task. After mastering a movement, mice may stop relying on primary motor cortex, suggesting multiple movement control systems in the brain.
Researchers found that inhibiting somatosensory cortex disrupts retention of motor memories, while motor cortex inhibition has no effect. This discovery sheds light on the consolidation process of motor skills and may have implications for rehabilitation and re-learning after injury.
Researchers discovered a sensorimotor function integration mechanism in expert pianists that enables skillful fingering. This neuroplastic adaptation enhances speed and precision of finger movements, revealing new insights into the brain's role in motor control.