Precise control of movement kinematics by optogenetic inhibition of purkinje cell activity
Purkinje cells (PCs) of the cerebellar cortex are necessary for controlling movement with precision, but a mechanistic explanation of how the activity of these inhibitory neurons regulates motor output is still lacking.Weused an optogenetic approach in awake mice to show for the first time that tr...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/103883 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/19334 |
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| Institution: | Nanyang Technological University |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | Purkinje cells (PCs) of the cerebellar cortex are necessary for controlling movement with precision, but a mechanistic explanation of how
the activity of these inhibitory neurons regulates motor output is still lacking.Weused an optogenetic approach in awake mice to show for
the first time that transiently suppressing spontaneous activity in a population of PCs is sufficient to cause discrete movements that can
be systematically modulated in size, speed, and timing depending on how much and how long PC firing is suppressed. We further
demonstrate that this fine control of movement kinematics is mediated by a graded disinhibition of target neurons in the deep cerebellar
nuclei. Our results prove a long-standing model of cerebellar function and provide the first demonstration that suppression of inhibitory
signals can act as a powerful mechanism for the precise control of behavior. |
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