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A trans‐spinal loop between neurones in the reticular formation and in the cerebellum
Author(s) -
Hammar I.,
Krutki P.,
DrzymalaCelichowska H.,
Nilsson E.,
Jankowska E.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2010.201178
Subject(s) - spinal cord , cerebellum , neuroscience , reticular formation , reticular connective tissue , population , biology , central nervous system , anatomy , medicine , environmental health
Non‐technical summary Voluntary limb movements are initiated in the brain but the neurones responsible for activating the muscles (motoneurones and interneurones) are located in the spinal cord. The spinal cord also contains neurones that provide the brain, and especially the cerebellum, with continuous information on effects of the descending commands. We show that one population of such neurones provide the cerebellum with information on how likely the brain's commands (mediated by descending reticulospinal neurones) are to be executed as planned, depending on the degree of inhibition of motoneurones. They may therefore play an important role in preventing errors in activation of motoneurones and thereby help the brain to correct its signals to the spinal cord before such errors have been committed.