HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 93/4/1831    most recent 00577.2004v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (20) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Beloozerova, I. N. Articles by Deliagina, T. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Beloozerova, I. N. Articles by Deliagina, T. G.

Activity of Pyramidal Tract Neurons in the Cat During Postural Corrections

¹Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona ²Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Submitted 4 June 2004; accepted in final form 29 October 2004

The dorsal side-up body orientation in quadrupeds is maintained by a postural control system. We investigated participation of the motor cortex in this system by recording activity of pyramidal tract neurons (PTNs) from limb representations of the motor cortex during postural corrections. The cat was standing on the platform periodically tilting in the frontal plane, and maintained equilibrium at different body configurations: with the head directed forward (symmetrically alternating loading of the left and right fore limbs), or with the head voluntary turned to the right or to the left (asymmetrical loading). We found that postural corrective responses to tilts included an increase of the contact forces and activity of limb extensors on the side moving down, and their decrease on the opposite side. The activity of PTNs was strongly modulated in relation to the tilt cycle. Phases of activity of individual PTNs were distributed over the cycle. Thus the cortical output mediated by PTNs appeared closely related to a highly automatic motor activity, the maintenance of the body posture. An asymmetrical loading of limbs, caused by head turns, resulted in the corresponding changes of motor responses to tilts. These voluntary postural modifications were also well reflected in the PTNs' activity. The activity of a part of PTNs correlated well with contact forces, in some others with the limb muscle activity; in still others no correlation with these variables was observed. This heterogeneity of the PTNs population suggests a different functional role of individual PTNs.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Yakovenko and T. Drew A Motor Cortical Contribution to the Anticipatory Postural Adjustments That Precede Reaching in the Cat J Neurophysiol, August 1, 2009; 102(2): 853 - 874. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Karayannidou, I. N. Beloozerova, P. V. Zelenin, E. E. Stout, M. G. Sirota, G. N. Orlovsky, and T. G. Deliagina Activity of pyramidal tract neurons in the cat during standing and walking on an inclined plane J. Physiol., August 1, 2009; 587(15): 3795 - 3811. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. F. Honeycutt, J. S. Gottschall, and T. R. Nichols Electromyographic Responses From the Hindlimb Muscles of the Decerebrate Cat to Horizontal Support Surface Perturbations J Neurophysiol, June 1, 2009; 101(6): 2751 - 2761. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J. Stapley and T. Drew The Pontomedullary Reticular Formation Contributes to the Compensatory Postural Responses Observed Following Removal of the Support Surface in the Standing Cat J Neurophysiol, March 1, 2009; 101(3): 1334 - 1350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. E. Kwegyir-Afful and D. J. Simons Subthreshold Receptive Field Properties Distinguish Different Classes of Corticothalamic Neurons in the Somatosensory System J. Neurosci., January 28, 2009; 29(4): 964 - 972. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Karayannidou, P. V. Zelenin, G. N. Orlovsky, M. G. Sirota, I. N. Beloozerova, and T. G. Deliagina Maintenance of Lateral Stability During Standing and Walking in the Cat J Neurophysiol, January 1, 2009; 101(1): 8 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Karayannidou, T. G. Deliagina, Z. A. Tamarova, M. G. Sirota, P. V. Zelenin, G. N. Orlovsky, and I. N. Beloozerova Influences of sensory input from the limbs on feline corticospinal neurons during postural responses J. Physiol., January 1, 2008; 586(1): 247 - 263. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. G. Deliagina, G. N. Orlovsky, P. V. Zelenin, and I. N. Beloozerova Neural Bases of Postural Control Physiology, June 1, 2006; 21(3): 216 - 225. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. G. Deliagina, M. G. Sirota, P. V. Zelenin, G. N. Orlovsky, and I. N. Beloozerova Interlimb postural coordination in the standing cat J. Physiol., May 15, 2006; 573(1): 211 - 224. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. G. Sirota, G. A. Pavlova, and I. N. Beloozerova Activity of the Motor Cortex During Scratching J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2006; 95(2): 753 - 765. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. F. Lyalka, P. V. Zelenin, A. Karayannidou, G. N. Orlovsky, S. Grillner, and T. G. Deliagina Impairment and Recovery of Postural Control in Rabbits With Spinal Cord Lesions J Neurophysiol, December 1, 2005; 94(6): 3677 - 3690. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. I. Prilutsky, M. G. Sirota, R. J. Gregor, and I. N. Beloozerova Quantification of Motor Cortex Activity and Full-Body Biomechanics During Unconstrained Locomotion J Neurophysiol, October 1, 2005; 94(4): 2959 - 2969. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]