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The role of the substantia nigra in posture control
Author(s) -
Barter Joseph W.,
Castro Stephen,
Sukharnikova Tatyana,
Rossi Mark A.,
Yin Henry H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/ejn.12540
Subject(s) - substantia nigra , basal ganglia , indirect pathway of movement , neuroscience , dopaminergic , tilt (camera) , gabaergic , direct pathway of movement , midbrain , dopamine , globus pallidus , biology , anatomy , psychology , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , central nervous system , mechanical engineering , engineering
Disorders implicating the basal ganglia are often characterized by postural deficits, but little is known about the role of the basal ganglia in posture control. Using wireless multi‐electrode recording, we measured single unit activity from GABA ergic and dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra as unrestrained mice stood on an elevated platform while introducing continuous postural disturbances in the roll plane. We found two major types of neurons – those activated by tilt to the left side of the body and suppressed by tilt to the right side, and others activated by tilt to the right side and suppressed by tilt to the left side. Contrary to the prevailing view that the basal ganglia output from the substantia nigra pars reticulata either inhibits or disinhibits downstream structures in an all or none fashion, we showed that it continuously sends anti‐phase signals to their downstream targets. We also demonstrated for the first time that nigrostriatal dopaminergic transmission is modulated by postural disturbances.