1
|
Olson WP, Chokshi VB, Kim JJ, Cowan N, O'Connor DH. Muscle spindles provide flexible sensory feedback for movement sequences. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.13.612899. [PMID: 39345532 PMCID: PMC11429703 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.13.612899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Sensory feedback is essential for motor performance and must adapt to task demands. Muscle spindle afferents (MSAs) are a major primary source of feedback about movement, and their responses are readily modulated online by gain-controller fusimotor neurons and other mechanisms. They are therefore a powerful site for implementing flexible sensorimotor control. We recorded from MSAs innervating the jaw musculature during performance of a directed lick sequence task. Jaw MSAs encoded complex jaw-tongue kinematics. However, kinematic encoding alone accounted for less than half of MSA spiking variability. MSA representations of kinematics changed based on sequence progression (beginning, middle, or end of the sequence, or reward consumption), suggesting that MSAs are flexibly tuned across the task. Dynamic control of incoming feedback signals from MSAs may be a strategy for adaptable sensorimotor control during performance of complex behaviors.
Collapse
|
2
|
Urbin MA. Adaptation in the spinal cord after stroke: Implications for restoring cortical control over the final common pathway. J Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38787922 DOI: 10.1113/jp285563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Control of voluntary movement is predicated on integration between circuits in the brain and spinal cord. Although damage is often restricted to supraspinal or spinal circuits in cases of neurological injury, both spinal motor neurons and axons linking these cells to the cortical origins of descending motor commands begin showing changes soon after the brain is injured by stroke. The concept of 'transneuronal degeneration' is not new and has been documented in histological, imaging and electrophysiological studies dating back over a century. Taken together, evidence from these studies agrees more with a system attempting to survive rather than one passively surrendering to degeneration. There tends to be at least some preservation of fibres at the brainstem origin and along the spinal course of the descending white matter tracts, even in severe cases. Myelin-associated proteins are observed in the spinal cord years after stroke onset. Spinal motor neurons remain morphometrically unaltered. Skeletal muscle fibres once innervated by neurons that lose their source of trophic input receive collaterals from adjacent neurons, causing spinal motor units to consolidate and increase in size. Although some level of excitability within the distributed brain network mediating voluntary movement is needed to facilitate recovery, minimal structural connectivity between cortical and spinal motor neurons can support meaningful distal limb function. Restoring access to the final common pathway via the descending input that remains in the spinal cord therefore represents a viable target for directed plasticity, particularly in light of recent advances in rehabilitation medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Urbin
- Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA RR&D Center of Excellence, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Marin Vargas A, Bisi A, Chiappa AS, Versteeg C, Miller LE, Mathis A. Task-driven neural network models predict neural dynamics of proprioception. Cell 2024; 187:1745-1761.e19. [PMID: 38518772 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Proprioception tells the brain the state of the body based on distributed sensory neurons. Yet, the principles that govern proprioceptive processing are poorly understood. Here, we employ a task-driven modeling approach to investigate the neural code of proprioceptive neurons in cuneate nucleus (CN) and somatosensory cortex area 2 (S1). We simulated muscle spindle signals through musculoskeletal modeling and generated a large-scale movement repertoire to train neural networks based on 16 hypotheses, each representing different computational goals. We found that the emerging, task-optimized internal representations generalize from synthetic data to predict neural dynamics in CN and S1 of primates. Computational tasks that aim to predict the limb position and velocity were the best at predicting the neural activity in both areas. Since task optimization develops representations that better predict neural activity during active than passive movements, we postulate that neural activity in the CN and S1 is top-down modulated during goal-directed movements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Marin Vargas
- Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; NeuroX Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Axel Bisi
- Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; NeuroX Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alberto S Chiappa
- Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; NeuroX Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Chris Versteeg
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA; Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lee E Miller
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA; Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Alexander Mathis
- Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; NeuroX Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kubota S, Sasaki C, Kikuta S, Yoshida J, Ito S, Gomi H, Oya T, Seki K. Modulation of somatosensory signal transmission in the primate cuneate nucleus during voluntary hand movement. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113884. [PMID: 38458194 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Primate hands house an array of mechanoreceptors and proprioceptors, which are essential for tactile and kinematic information crucial for daily motor action. While the regulation of these somatosensory signals is essential for hand movements, the specific central nervous system (CNS) location and mechanism remain unclear. Our study demonstrates the attenuation of somatosensory signals in the cuneate nucleus during voluntary movement, suggesting significant modulation at this initial relay station in the CNS. The attenuation is comparable to the cerebral cortex but more pronounced than in the spinal cord, indicating the cuneate nuclei's role in somatosensory perception modulation during movement. Moreover, our findings suggest that the descending motor tract may regulate somatosensory transmission in the cuneate nucleus, enhancing relevant signals and suppressing unnecessary ones for the regulation of movement. This process of recurrent somatosensory modulation between cortical and subcortical areas could be a basic mechanism for modulating somatosensory signals to achieve active perception.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Kubota
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Chika Sasaki
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Satomi Kikuta
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Junichiro Yoshida
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Sho Ito
- NTT Communication Science Laboratories, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Co., Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Gomi
- NTT Communication Science Laboratories, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Co., Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0198, Japan
| | - Tomomichi Oya
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Seki
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Katic Secerovic N, Balaguer JM, Gorskii O, Pavlova N, Liang L, Ho J, Grigsby E, Gerszten PC, Karal-Ogly D, Bulgin D, Orlov S, Pirondini E, Musienko P, Raspopovic S, Capogrosso M. Neural population dynamics reveals disruption of spinal circuits' responses to proprioceptive input during electrical stimulation of sensory afferents. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113695. [PMID: 38245870 PMCID: PMC10962447 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
While neurostimulation technologies are rapidly approaching clinical applications for sensorimotor disorders, the impact of electrical stimulation on network dynamics is still unknown. Given the high degree of shared processing in neural structures, it is critical to understand if neurostimulation affects functions that are related to, but not targeted by, the intervention. Here, we approach this question by studying the effects of electrical stimulation of cutaneous afferents on unrelated processing of proprioceptive inputs. We recorded intraspinal neural activity in four monkeys while generating proprioceptive inputs from the radial nerve. We then applied continuous stimulation to the radial nerve cutaneous branch and quantified the impact of the stimulation on spinal processing of proprioceptive inputs via neural population dynamics. Proprioceptive pulses consistently produce neural trajectories that are disrupted by concurrent cutaneous stimulation. This disruption propagates to the somatosensory cortex, suggesting that electrical stimulation can perturb natural information processing across the neural axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalija Katic Secerovic
- School of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; The Mihajlo Pupin Institute, University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia; Laboratory for Neuroengineering, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Josep-Maria Balaguer
- Rehab and Neural Engineering Labs, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Oleg Gorskii
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, Saint-Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia; National University of Science and Technology "MISIS," 4 Leninskiy Pr., 119049 Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia Pavlova
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, Saint-Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Lucy Liang
- Rehab and Neural Engineering Labs, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan Ho
- Rehab and Neural Engineering Labs, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Erinn Grigsby
- Rehab and Neural Engineering Labs, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Peter C Gerszten
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Dzhina Karal-Ogly
- National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute," 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry Bulgin
- National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute," 123098 Moscow, Russia; Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354340 Sochi, Russia
| | - Sergei Orlov
- National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute," 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elvira Pirondini
- Rehab and Neural Engineering Labs, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Pavel Musienko
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, Saint-Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia; Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354340 Sochi, Russia; Life Improvement by Future Technologies Center "LIFT," 143025 Moscow, Russia
| | - Stanisa Raspopovic
- Laboratory for Neuroengineering, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Marco Capogrosso
- Rehab and Neural Engineering Labs, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mahrous AA, Liang L, Balaguer JM, Ho JC, Hari K, Grigsby EM, Karapetyan V, Damiani A, Fields DP, Gonzalez-Martinez JA, Gerszten PC, Bennett DJ, Heckman CJ, Pirondini E, Capogrosso M. GABA Increases Sensory Transmission In Monkeys. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.28.573467. [PMID: 38234767 PMCID: PMC10793394 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.28.573467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Sensory input flow is central to voluntary movements. For almost a century, GABA was believed to modulate this flow by inhibiting sensory axons in the spinal cord to sculpt neural inputs into skilled motor output. Instead, here we show that GABA can also facilitate sensory transmission in monkeys and consequently increase spinal and cortical neural responses to sensory inputs challenging our understanding of generation and perception of movement.
Collapse
|
7
|
Tomatsu S, Kim G, Kubota S, Seki K. Presynaptic gating of monkey proprioceptive signals for proper motor action. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6537. [PMID: 37880215 PMCID: PMC10600222 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42077-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Our rich behavioural repertoire is supported by complicated synaptic connectivity in the central nervous system, which must be modulated to prevent behavioural control from being overwhelmed. For this modulation, presynaptic inhibition is an efficient mechanism because it can gate specific synaptic input without interfering with main circuit operations. Previously, we reported the task-dependent presynaptic inhibition of the cutaneous afferent input to the spinal cord in behaving monkeys. Here, we report presynaptic inhibition of the proprioceptive afferent input. We found that the input from shortened muscles is transiently facilitated, whereas that from lengthened muscles is persistently reduced. This presynaptic inhibition could be generated by cortical signals because it started before movement onset, and its size was correlated with the performance of stable motor output. Our findings demonstrate that presynaptic inhibition acts as a dynamic filter of proprioceptive signals, enabling the integration of task-relevant signals into spinal circuits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saeka Tomatsu
- National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Behavioral Development, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - GeeHee Kim
- National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Behavioral Development, Department of Developmental Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinji Kubota
- National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Seki
- National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan.
- Division of Behavioral Development, Department of Developmental Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sutter C, Moinon A, Felicetti L, Massi F, Blouin J, Mouchnino L. Cortical facilitation of tactile afferents during the preparation of a body weight transfer when standing on a biomimetic surface. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1175667. [PMID: 37404946 PMCID: PMC10315651 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1175667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-generated movement shapes tactile perception, but few studies have investigated the brain mechanisms involved in the processing of the mechanical signals related to the static and transient skin deformations generated by forces and pressures exerted between the foot skin and the standing surface. We recently found that standing on a biomimetic surface (i.e., inspired by the characteristics of mechanoreceptors and skin dermatoglyphics), that magnified skin-surface interaction, increased the sensory flow to the somatosensory cortex and improved balance control compared to standing on control (e.g., smooth) surfaces. In this study, we tested whether the well-known sensory suppression that occurs during movements is alleviated when the tactile afferent signal becomes relevant with the use of a biomimetic surface. Eyes-closed participants (n = 25) self-stimulated their foot cutaneous receptors by shifting their body weight toward one of their legs while standing on either a biomimetic or a control (smooth) surface. In a control task, similar forces were exerted on the surfaces (i.e., similar skin-surface interaction) by passive translations of the surfaces. Sensory gating was assessed by measuring the amplitude of the somatosensory-evoked potential over the vertex (SEP, recorded by EEG). Significantly larger and shorter SEPs were found when participants stood on the biomimetic surface. This was observed whether the forces exerted on the surface were self-generated or passively generated. Contrary to our prediction, we found that the sensory attenuation related to the self-generated movement did not significantly differ between the biomimetic and control surfaces. However, we observed an increase in gamma activity (30-50 Hz) over centroparietal regions during the preparation phase of the weight shift only when participants stood on the biomimetic surface. This result might suggest that gamma-band oscillations play an important functional role in processing behaviorally relevant stimuli during the early stages of body weight transfer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Sutter
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, FR 3C, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Alix Moinon
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, FR 3C, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Livia Felicetti
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- LAMCOS, INSA Lyon, CNRS, UMR5259, Université Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Francesco Massi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Jean Blouin
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, FR 3C, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Laurence Mouchnino
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, FR 3C, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yunoki K, Watanabe T, Matsumoto T, Kuwabara T, Horinouchi T, Ito K, Ishida H, Kirimoto H. Cutaneous information processing differs with load type during isometric finger abduction. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0279477. [PMID: 36548285 PMCID: PMC9778995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
During submaximal isometric contraction, there are two different load types: maintenance of a constant limb angle while supporting an inertial load (position task) and maintenance of a constant force by pushing against a rigid restraint (force task). Previous studies demonstrated that performing the position task requires more proprioceptive information. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there would be a difference in cutaneous information processing between the position and force tasks by assessing the gating effect, which is reduction of amplitude of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), and cutaneomuscular reflex (CMR). Eighteen healthy adults participated in this study. They contracted their right first dorsal interosseous muscle by abducting their index finger to produce a constant force against a rigid restraint that was 20% maximum voluntary contraction (force task), or to maintain a target position corresponding to 10° abduction of the metacarpophalangeal joint while supporting a load equivalent to 20% maximum voluntary contraction (position task). During each task, electrical stimulation was applied to the digital nerves of the right index finger, and SEPs and CMR were recorded from C3' of the International 10-20 system and the right first dorsal interosseous muscle, respectively. Reduction of the amplitude of N33 component of SEPs was significantly larger during the force than position task. In addition, the E2 amplitude of CMR was significantly greater for the force than position task. These findings suggest that cutaneous information processing differs with load type during static muscle contraction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Yunoki
- Department of Sensorimotor Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tatsunori Watanabe
- Department of Sensorimotor Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Aomori University of Health and Welfare, Aomori, Japan
| | - Takuya Matsumoto
- Department of Sensorimotor Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Chiyoda-ku, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kuwabara
- Department of Sensorimotor Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Rehabilitation, Uonuma Kikan Hospital, Minamiuonuma, Niigata, Japan
| | - Takayuki Horinouchi
- Department of Sensorimotor Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kanami Ito
- Department of Sensorimotor Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Haruki Ishida
- Department of Sensorimotor Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hikari Kirimoto
- Department of Sensorimotor Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sukumar V, Johansson RS, Pruszynski JA. Precise and stable edge orientation signaling by human first-order tactile neurons. eLife 2022; 11:e81476. [PMID: 36314774 PMCID: PMC9642991 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Fast-adapting type 1 (FA-1) and slow-adapting type 1 (SA-1) first-order neurons in the human tactile system have distal axons that branch in the skin and form many transduction sites, yielding receptive fields with many highly sensitive zones or 'subfields.' We previously demonstrated that this arrangement allows FA-1 and SA-1 neurons to signal the geometric features of touched objects, specifically the orientation of raised edges scanned with the fingertips. Here, we show that such signaling operates for fine edge orientation differences (5-20°) and is stable across a broad range of scanning speeds (15-180 mm/s); that is, under conditions relevant for real-world hand use. We found that both FA-1 and SA-1 neurons weakly signal fine edge orientation differences via the intensity of their spiking responses and only when considering a single scanning speed. Both neuron types showed much stronger edge orientation signaling in the sequential structure of the evoked spike trains, and FA-1 neurons performed better than SA-1 neurons. Represented in the spatial domain, the sequential structure was strikingly invariant across scanning speeds, especially those naturally used in tactile spatial discrimination tasks. This speed invariance suggests that neurons' responses are structured via sequential stimulation of their subfields and thus links this capacity to their terminal organization in the skin. Indeed, the spatial precision of elicited action potentials rationally matched spatial acuity of subfield arrangements, which corresponds to a spatial period similar to the dimensions of individual fingertip ridges.
Collapse
|
11
|
Gebehart C, Hooper SL, Büschges A. Non-linear multimodal integration in a distributed premotor network controls proprioceptive reflex gain in the insect leg. Curr Biol 2022; 32:3847-3854.e3. [PMID: 35896118 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Producing context-appropriate motor acts requires integrating multiple sensory modalities. Presynaptic inhibition of proprioceptive afferent neurons1-4 and afferents of different modalities targeting the same motor neurons (MNs)5-7 underlies some of this integration. However, in most systems, an interneuronal network is interposed between sensory afferents and MNs. How these networks contribute to this integration, particularly at single-neuron resolution, is little understood. Context-specific integration of load and movement sensory inputs occurs in the stick insect locomotory system,6,8-12 and both inputs feed into a network of premotor nonspiking interneurons (NSIs).8 We analyzed how load altered movement signal processing in the stick insect femur-tibia (FTi) joint control system by tracing the interaction of FTi movement13-15 (femoral chordotonal organ [fCO]) and load13,15,16 (tibial campaniform sensilla [CS]) signals through the NSI network to the slow extensor tibiae (SETi) MN, the extensor MN primarily active in non-walking animals.17-19 On the afferent level, load reduced movement signal gain by presynaptic inhibition. In the NSI network, graded responses to movement and load inputs summed nonlinearly, increasing the gain of NSIs opposing movement-induced reflexes and thus decreasing the SETi and extensor tibiae muscle movement reflex responses. Gain modulation was movement-parameter specific and required presynaptic inhibition. These data suggest that gain changes in distributed premotor networks, specifically the relative weighting of antagonistic pathways, could be a general mechanism by which multiple sensory modalities are integrated to generate context-appropriate motor activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Gebehart
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Scott L Hooper
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany; Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Ansgar Büschges
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Sobinov AR, Bensmaia SJ. The neural mechanisms of manual dexterity. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:741-757. [PMID: 34711956 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00528-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The hand endows us with unparalleled precision and versatility in our interactions with objects, from mundane activities such as grasping to extraordinary ones such as virtuoso pianism. The complex anatomy of the human hand combined with expansive and specialized neuronal control circuits allows a wide range of precise manual behaviours. To support these behaviours, an exquisite sensory apparatus, spanning the modalities of touch and proprioception, conveys detailed and timely information about our interactions with objects and about the objects themselves. The study of manual dexterity provides a unique lens into the sensorimotor mechanisms that endow the nervous system with the ability to flexibly generate complex behaviour.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anton R Sobinov
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sliman J Bensmaia
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. .,Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. .,Committee on Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Conner JM, Bohannon A, Igarashi M, Taniguchi J, Baltar N, Azim E. Modulation of tactile feedback for the execution of dexterous movement. Science 2021; 374:316-323. [PMID: 34648327 DOI: 10.1126/science.abh1123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James M Conner
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Bohannon
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Masakazu Igarashi
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - James Taniguchi
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas Baltar
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Eiman Azim
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Shokur S, Mazzoni A, Schiavone G, Weber DJ, Micera S. A modular strategy for next-generation upper-limb sensory-motor neuroprostheses. MED 2021; 2:912-937. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2021.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
15
|
Versteeg C, Rosenow JM, Bensmaia SJ, Miller LE. Encoding of limb state by single neurons in the cuneate nucleus of awake monkeys. J Neurophysiol 2021; 126:693-706. [PMID: 34010577 PMCID: PMC8409958 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00568.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The cuneate nucleus (CN) is among the first sites along the neuraxis where proprioceptive signals can be integrated, transformed, and modulated. The objective of the study was to characterize the proprioceptive representations in CN. To this end, we recorded from single CN neurons in three monkeys during active reaching and passive limb perturbation. We found that many neurons exhibited responses that were tuned approximately sinusoidally to limb movement direction, as has been found for other sensorimotor neurons. The distribution of their preferred directions (PDs) was highly nonuniform and resembled that of muscle spindles within individual muscles, suggesting that CN neurons typically receive inputs from only a single muscle. We also found that the responses of proprioceptive CN neurons tended to be modestly amplified during active reaching movements compared to passive limb perturbations, in contrast to cutaneous CN neurons whose responses were not systematically different in the active and passive conditions. Somatosensory signals thus seem to be subject to a "spotlighting" of relevant sensory information rather than uniform suppression as has been suggested previously.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The cuneate nucleus (CN) is the somatosensory gateway into the brain, and only recently has it been possible to record these signals from an awake animal. We recorded single CN neurons in monkeys. Proprioceptive CN neurons appear to receive input from very few muscles, and their sensitivity to movement changes reliably during reaching relative to passive arm perturbations. Sensitivity is generally increased, but not exclusively so, as though CN "spotlights" critical proprioceptive information during reaching.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Versteeg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Joshua M Rosenow
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Sliman J Bensmaia
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Committee on Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Grossman Institute of Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology, and Human Behavior, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Lee E Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Fabre M, Antoine M, Robitaille MG, Ribot-Ciscar E, Ackerley R, Aimonetti JM, Chavet P, Blouin J, Simoneau M, Mouchnino L. Large Postural Sways Prevent Foot Tactile Information From Fading: Neurophysiological Evidence. Cereb Cortex Commun 2021; 2:tgaa094. [PMID: 34296149 PMCID: PMC8152841 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgaa094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous foot receptors are important for balance control, and their activation during quiet standing depends on the speed and the amplitude of postural oscillations. We hypothesized that the transmission of cutaneous input to the cortex is reduced during prolonged small postural sways due to receptor adaptation during continued skin compression. Central mechanisms would trigger large sways to reactivate the receptors. We compared the amplitude of positive and negative post-stimulation peaks (P50N90) somatosensory cortical potentials evoked by the electrical stimulation of the foot sole during small and large sways in 16 young adults standing still with their eyes closed. We observed greater P50N90 amplitudes during large sways compared with small sways consistent with increased cutaneous transmission during large sways. Postural oscillations computed 200 ms before large sways had smaller amplitudes than those before small sways, providing sustained compression within a small foot sole area. Cortical source analyses revealed that during this interval, the activity of the somatosensory areas decreased, whereas the activity of cortical areas engaged in motor planning (supplementary motor area, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) increased. We concluded that large sways during quiet standing represent self-generated functional behavior aiming at releasing skin compression to reactivate mechanoreceptors. Such balance motor commands create sensory reafference that help control postural sway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Fabre
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, FR 3C, Marseille 13331, France
| | - Marine Antoine
- Département de kinésiologie, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | | | - Edith Ribot-Ciscar
- LNSC (Laboratoire de Neurosciences Sensorielles et Cognitives - UMR 7260, FR3C), Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Marseille 13331, France
| | - Rochelle Ackerley
- LNSC (Laboratoire de Neurosciences Sensorielles et Cognitives - UMR 7260, FR3C), Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Marseille 13331, France
| | - Jean-Marc Aimonetti
- LNSC (Laboratoire de Neurosciences Sensorielles et Cognitives - UMR 7260, FR3C), Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Marseille 13331, France
| | - Pascale Chavet
- Institut des Sciences du Mouvement, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Marseille 13288, France
| | - Jean Blouin
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, FR 3C, Marseille 13331, France
| | - Martin Simoneau
- Département de kinésiologie, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Laurence Mouchnino
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, FR 3C, Marseille 13331, France
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Naito E, Morita T, Asada M. Importance of the Primary Motor Cortex in Development of Human Hand/Finger Dexterity. Cereb Cortex Commun 2021; 1:tgaa085. [PMID: 34296141 PMCID: PMC8152843 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgaa085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hand/finger dexterity is well-developed in humans, and the primary motor cortex (M1) is believed to play a particularly important role in it. Here, we show that efficient recruitment of the contralateral M1 and neuronal inhibition of the ipsilateral M1 identified by simple hand motor and proprioceptive tasks are related to hand/finger dexterity and its ontogenetic development. We recruited healthy, right-handed children (n = 21, aged 8–11 years) and adults (n = 23, aged 20–26 years) and measured their brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging during active and passive right-hand extension–flexion tasks. We calculated individual active control-related activity (active–passive) to evaluate efficient brain activity recruitment and individual task-related deactivation (neuronal inhibition) during both tasks. Outside the scanner, participants performed 2 right-hand dexterous motor tasks, and we calculated the hand/finger dexterity index (HDI) based on their individual performance. Participants with a higher HDI exhibited less active control-related activity in the contralateral M1 defined by the active and passive tasks, independent of age. Only children with a higher HDI exhibited greater ipsilateral M1 deactivation identified by these tasks. The results imply that hand/finger dexterity can be predicted by recruitment and inhibition styles of the M1 during simple hand sensory–motor tasks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eiichi Naito
- Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tomoyo Morita
- Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Minoru Asada
- Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Wasaka T, Kida T, Kakigi R. Dexterous manual movement facilitates information processing in the primary somatosensory cortex: A magnetoencephalographic study. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:4638-4648. [PMID: 33987876 PMCID: PMC8361953 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The interaction between the somatosensory and motor systems is important for control of movement in humans. Cortical activity related to somatosensory response and sensory perception is modulated by the influence of movement executing mechanisms. This phenomenon has been observed as inhibition in the short‐latency components of somatosensory evoked potentials and magnetic fields (SEPs/SEFs). Although finger is the most dexterous among all the body parts, the sensorimotor integration underlying this dexterity has not yet been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine the sensorimotor integration mechanisms in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) during simple and complicated finger movement. The participant performed tasks that involved picking up a wooden block (PM task) and picking up and turning the wooden block 180° (PTM task) using the right‐hand fingers. During these tasks, the SEFs following right median nerve stimulation were recorded using magnetoencephalography. The amplitude of the M20 and M30 components showed a significant reduction during both manual tasks compared to the stationary task, whereas the M38 component showed a significant enhancement in amplitude. Furthermore, the SEFs recorded during continuous rotation of the block (rotation task) revealed a characteristic pattern of SI activity that was first suppressed and then facilitated. Since this facilitation is noticeable during complicated movement of the fingers, this phenomenon is thought to underlie a neural mechanism related to finger dexterity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Toshiaki Wasaka
- Department of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Japan.,Department of Integrative Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Kida
- Department of Integrative Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan.,Higher Brain Function Unit, Department of Functioning and Disability, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, Kasugai, Japan.,Section of Brain Function Information, Supportive Center for Brain Research, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Kakigi
- Department of Integrative Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Motyka P, Akbal M, Litwin P. Forward optic flow is prioritised in visual awareness independently of walking direction. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250905. [PMID: 33945563 PMCID: PMC8096117 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
When two different images are presented separately to each eye, one experiences smooth transitions between them-a phenomenon called binocular rivalry. Previous studies have shown that exposure to signals from other senses can enhance the access of stimulation-congruent images to conscious perception. However, despite our ability to infer perceptual consequences from bodily movements, evidence that action can have an analogous influence on visual awareness is scarce and mainly limited to hand movements. Here, we investigated whether one's direction of locomotion affects perceptual access to optic flow patterns during binocular rivalry. Participants walked forwards and backwards on a treadmill while viewing highly-realistic visualisations of self-motion in a virtual environment. We hypothesised that visualisations congruent with walking direction would predominate in visual awareness over incongruent ones, and that this effect would increase with the precision of one's active proprioception. These predictions were not confirmed: optic flow consistent with forward locomotion was prioritised in visual awareness independently of walking direction and proprioceptive abilities. Our findings suggest the limited role of kinaesthetic-proprioceptive information in disambiguating visually perceived direction of self-motion and indicate that vision might be tuned to the (expanding) optic flow patterns prevalent in everyday life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Motyka
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mert Akbal
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Academy of Fine Arts Saar, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Piotr Litwin
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Versteeg C, Chowdhury RH, Miller LE. Cuneate nucleus: The somatosensory gateway to the brain. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 20:206-215. [PMID: 33869911 DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2021.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Much remains unknown about the transformation of proprioceptive afferent input from the periphery to the cortex. Until recently, the only recordings from neurons in the cuneate nucleus (CN) were from anesthetized animals. We are beginning to learn more about how the sense of proprioception is transformed as it propagates centrally. Recent recordings from microelectrode arrays chronically implanted in CN have revealed that CN neurons with muscle-like properties have a greater sensitivity to active reaching movements than to passive limb displacement, and we find that these neurons have receptive fields that resemble single muscles. In this review, we focus on the varied uses of proprioceptive input and the possible role of CN in processing this information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Versteeg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern 7 University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Raeed H Chowdhury
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 10 Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lee E Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern 7 University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, 13 IL, USA.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, 16 Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
As we actively explore the environment, our motion relative to the world stimulates numerous sensory systems. Notably, proprioceptors provide feedback about body and limb position, while the vestibular system detects and encodes head motion. When the vestibular system is functioning normally, we are unaware of a distinct sensation because vestibular information is integrated with proprioceptive and other sensory inputs to generate our sense of motion. However, patients with vestibular sensory loss experience impairments that provide important insights into the function of this essential sensory system. For these patients, everyday activities such as walking become difficult because even small head movements can produce postural and perceptual instability. This review describes recent research demonstrating how the proprioceptive and vestibular systems effectively work together to provide us with our “6th sense” during everyday activities, and in particular considers the neural computations underlying the brain’s predictive sensing of head movement during voluntary self-motion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen E Cullen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Omid A Zobeiri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Hirano M, Sakurada M, Furuya S. Overcoming the ceiling effects of experts' motor expertise through active haptic training. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/47/eabd2558. [PMID: 33219034 PMCID: PMC7679166 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd2558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
One of the most challenging issues among experts is how to improve motor skills that have already been highly trained. Recent studies have proposed importance of both genetic predisposition and accumulated amount of practice for standing at the top of fields of sports and performing arts. In contrast to the two factors, what is unexplored is how one practices impacts on experts' expertise. Here, we show that training of active somatosensory function (active haptic training) enhances precise force control in the keystrokes and somatosensory functions specifically of expert pianists, but not of untrained individuals. By contrast, training that merely repeats the task with provision of error feedback, which is a typical training method, failed to improve the force control in the experts, but not in the untrained. These findings provide evidence that the limit of highly trained motor skills could be overcome by optimizing training methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Hirano
- Sony Computer Science Laboratories Inc. (SONY CSL), Tokyo, Japan.
- Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - M Sakurada
- Sony Computer Science Laboratories Inc. (SONY CSL), Tokyo, Japan
- Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - S Furuya
- Sony Computer Science Laboratories Inc. (SONY CSL), Tokyo, Japan
- Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Brooks JX, Cullen KE. Predictive Sensing: The Role of Motor Signals in Sensory Processing. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2019; 4:842-850. [PMID: 31401034 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The strategy of integrating motor signals with sensory information during voluntary behavior is a general feature of sensory processing. It is required to distinguish externally applied (exafferent) from self-generated (reafferent) sensory inputs. This distinction, in turn, underlies our ability to achieve both perceptual stability and accurate motor control during everyday activities. In this review, we consider the results of recent experiments that have provided circuit-level insight into how motor-related inputs to sensory areas selectively cancel self-generated sensory inputs during active behaviors. These studies have revealed both common strategies and important differences across systems. Sensory reafference is suppressed at the earliest stages of central processing in the somatosensory, vestibular, and auditory systems, with the cerebellum and cerebellum-like structures playing key roles. Furthermore, motor-related inputs can also suppress reafferent responses at higher levels of processing such as the cortex-a strategy preferentially used in visual processing. These recent findings have important implications for understanding how the brain achieves the flexibility required to continuously calibrate relationships between motor signals and the resultant sensory feedback, a computation necessary for our subjective awareness that we control both our actions and their sensory consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica X Brooks
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kathleen E Cullen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Nelson NA, Wang X, Cook D, Carey EM, Nimmerjahn A. Imaging spinal cord activity in behaving animals. Exp Neurol 2019; 320:112974. [PMID: 31175843 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2019.112974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The spinal cord is the primary neurological link between the brain and peripheral organs. How important it is in everyday life is apparent in patients with spinal cord injury or motoneuron disease, who have dramatically reduced musculoskeletal control or capacity to sense their environment. Despite its crucial role in sensory and motor processing little is known about the cellular and molecular signaling events that underlie spinal cord function under naturalistic conditions. While genetic, electrophysiological, pharmacological, and circuit tracing studies have revealed important roles for different molecularly defined neurons, these approaches insufficiently describe the moment-to-moment neuronal and non-neuronal activity patterns that underlie sensory-guided motor behaviors in health and disease. The recent development of imaging methods for real-time interrogation of cellular activity in the spinal cord of behaving mice has removed longstanding technical obstacles to spinal cord research and allowed new insight into how different cell types encode sensory information from mechanoreceptors and nociceptors in the skin. Here, we review the current state-of-the-art in interrogating cellular and microcircuit function in the spinal cord of behaving mammals and discuss current opportunities and technological challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Nelson
- Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Biologial Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Xiang Wang
- Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Daniela Cook
- Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Erin M Carey
- Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Axel Nimmerjahn
- Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Abstract
Coordinated movement depends on constant interaction between neural circuits that produce motor output and those that report sensory consequences. Fundamental to this process are mechanisms for controlling the influence that sensory signals have on motor pathways - for example, reducing feedback gains when they are disruptive and increasing gains when advantageous. Sensory gain control comes in many forms and serves diverse purposes - in some cases sensory input is attenuated to maintain movement stability and filter out irrelevant or self-generated signals, or enhanced to facilitate salient signals for improved movement execution and adaptation. The ubiquitous presence of sensory gain control across species at multiple levels of the nervous system reflects the importance of tuning the impact that feedback information has on behavioral output.
Collapse
|
26
|
Lhomond O, Teasdale N, Simoneau M, Mouchnino L. Supplementary Motor Area and Superior Parietal Lobule Restore Sensory Facilitation Prior to Stepping When a Decrease of Afferent Inputs Occurs. Front Neurol 2019; 9:1132. [PMID: 30662426 PMCID: PMC6328453 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.01132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The weighting of the sensory inputs is not uniform during movement preparation and execution. For instance, a transient increase in the transmission to the cortical level of cutaneous input ~700 ms was observed before participants initiated a step forward. The sensory facilitation occurred at a time when feet cutaneous information is critical for setting the forces to be exerted onto the ground to shift the center of mass toward the supporting side prior to foot-off. Despite clear evidence of task-dependent modulation of the early somatosensory signal transmission, the neural mechanisms are mainly unknown. One hypothesis suggests that during movement preparation the premotor cortex and specifically the supplementary motor area (SMA) can be the source of an efferent signal that facilitates the somatosensory processes irrespectively of the amount of sensory inputs arriving at the somatosensory areas. Here, we depressed mechanically the plantar sole cutaneous transmission by increasing pressure under the feet by adding an extra body weight to test whether the task-dependent modulation is present during step preparation. Results showed upregulation of the neural response to tactile stimulation in the extra-weight condition during the stepping preparation whereas depressed neural response was still observed in standing condition. Source localization indicated the SMA and to a lesser extent the superior parietal lobule (SPL) areas as the likely origin of the response modulation. Upregulating cutaneous inputs (when mechanically depressed) at an early stage by efferent signals from the motor system could be an attempt to restore the level of sensory afferents to make it suitable for setting the anticipatory adjustments prior to step initiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Lhomond
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, Marseille, France
| | - Normand Teasdale
- Faculté de médecine, Département de kinésiologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Martin Simoneau
- Faculté de médecine, Département de kinésiologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Réadaptation et Intégration Sociale, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Laurence Mouchnino
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Cortical modulation of sensory flow during active touch in the rat whisker system. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3907. [PMID: 30254195 PMCID: PMC6156333 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06200-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory gating, where responses to stimuli during sensor motion are reduced in amplitude, is a hallmark of active sensing systems. In the rodent whisker system, sensory gating has been described only at the thalamic and cortical stages of sensory processing. However, does sensory gating originate at an even earlier synaptic level? Most importantly, is sensory gating under top-down or bottom-up control? To address these questions, we used an active touch task in behaving rodents while recording from the trigeminal sensory nuclei. First, we show that sensory gating occurs in the brainstem at the first synaptic level. Second, we demonstrate that sensory gating is pathway-specific, present in the lemniscal but not in the extralemniscal stream. Third, using cortical lesions resulting in the complete abolition of sensory gating, we demonstrate its cortical dependence. Fourth, we show accompanying decreases in whisking-related activity, which could be the putative gating signal. During active touch, sensory responses to object touch are gated at the level of thalamus and cortex. Here, the authors report gating at the level of the brainstem and show that an intact somatosensory cortex is essential for this response modulation.
Collapse
|
28
|
Garland SJ, Gallina A, Pollock CL, Ivanova TD. Effect of standing posture on inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in gastrocnemius motoneurons. J Neurophysiol 2018; 120:263-271. [PMID: 29617216 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00555.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined the task dependence of sensory inputs on motoneuron excitability by comparing the inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) evoked by stimulation of the sural nerve between a standing postural task (Free Standing) and a comparable voluntary isometric contraction performed in a supine position (Lying Supine). We hypothesized that there would be a smaller IPSP in standing than in the supine position, based on the task dependence of the ankle plantarflexor activity on the standing task. Ten healthy participants participated in a total of 15 experiments. Single motor unit (MU) firings were recorded with both intramuscular fine-wire electrodes and high-density surface electromyography. Participants maintained the MU discharge at 6-8 Hz in Free Standing or Lying Supine while the right sural nerve was stimulated at random intervals between 1 and 3 s. To evaluate the reflex response, the firing times of the discriminated MUs were used to construct peristimulus time histograms and peristimulus frequencygrams. The sural nerve stimulation resulted in weaker inhibition in Free Standing than in Lying Supine. This finding is discussed in relation to the putative activation of persistent inward currents in standing posture and the task-dependent advantages of overriding inhibitory synaptic inputs to the plantarflexors to maintain the standing posture. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The task-dependent modulation of sensory inputs on motoneuron excitability in standing is not well understood. Evoking an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) resulted in a smaller IPSP in gastrocnemius motoneurons in standing than in the supine position. Mildly painful sensory inputs produced weaker motoneuron inhibition in standing, suggesting an imperative to maintain ankle plantarflexion activity for the task of upright stance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S J Garland
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada
| | - A Gallina
- Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada
| | - C L Pollock
- Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada
| | - T D Ivanova
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
|
30
|
Facilitation of information processing in the primary somatosensory area in the ball rotation task. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15507. [PMID: 29138504 PMCID: PMC5686197 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15775-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatosensory input to the brain is known to be modulated during voluntary movement. It has been demonstrated that the response in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) is generally gated during simple movement of the corresponding body part. This study investigated sensorimotor integration in the SI during manual movement using a motor task combining movement complexity and object manipulation. While the amplitude of M20 and M30 generated in the SI showed a significant reduction during manual movement, the subsequent component (M38) was significantly higher in the motor task than in the stationary condition. Especially, that in the ball rotation task showed a significant enhancement compared with those in the ball grasping and stone and paper tasks. Although sensorimotor integration in the SI generally has an inhibitory effect on information processing, here we found facilitation. Since the ball rotation task seems to be increasing the demand for somatosensory information to control the complex movements and operate two balls in the palm, it may have resulted in an enhancement of M38 generated in the SI.
Collapse
|