Area-specific contribution to locomotor control in premotor cortex

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19KK0414
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (A))
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: University of Toyama (2020-2022); Asahikawa Medical College (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Nakajima Toshi 富山大学, 学術研究部医学系, 准教授 (00455792)
• Project Period (FY): 2020 – 2022
• Keywords: ネコ / 歩行 / 高次運動野 / 単一細胞記録 / 不活性化 / 随意運動 / 視覚 / 比較生理学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To explore the roles of the premotor cortices (PMC) in controlling visually guided locomotion on uneven terrain, which entails a high risk of falling, we trained cats to walk on a treadmill with obstacles, and explored the PMC using both electrophysiological (1) and pharmacological (2) approaches.
In approach (1), we characterized the function of the 4delta subdivision of the PMC as interlimb coordination and published our findings in the following journal: Nakajima, T., Fortier-Lebel, N., & Drew, T. (2023). A secondary motor area contributing to interlimb coordination during visually guided locomotion in the cat. Cerebral Cortex, 33(2), 290-315.
Our analysis for (2) is currently ongoing, but preliminary results show that temporary inactivation of the 4delta using pharmacological intervention leads to motor impairment affecting multiple limbs, supporting the findings from (1).

Free Research Field

システム神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で得られた知見は脳障害に起因する歩行障害の病態生理学的機序についての理解を深め，高次脳機能に着目した障害部位特異的な歩行リハビリテーション法を開発する礎となりました．更に，物に対して手を伸ばすといった「単発の運動」の制御という枠内で機能を特徴づけられてきた高次運動野(PMC)に，歩行運動の制御という異なった角度からアプローチを行い，PMCによる運動一般の制御機構の包括的な理解を促しました．