We are interested in how organisms perceive their own movements through somatosensation. Self- movement perception is thought to be important both for understanding the external world (i.e. as one passes his fingers over a bumpy surface) and for the on-line control of movement (i.e. as one tries to touch his own nose with his finger while his eyes are closed). To study this question, we use the rodent vibrissal system as a tractable mammalian model system because (1) the neuroanatomy for this system is relatively well-characterized, (2) the system is relatively easily accessible to experimental manipulation, and (3) the sensitivity of the system rivals that of human touch. Rodents use their vibrissae (whiskers) to sense the external world. By rhythmically sweeping their vibrissae back and forth in a behavior known as """"""""whisking"""""""", the vibrissae contact objects near the face. This behavior allows the animal to form perceptions about its immediate surroundings. In forming these perceptions based on inputs from moving sensors, rodents must keep track of their own movements as well as external objects.
The aims of this proposal are to determine: (1) how movement information that is """"""""re- coded"""""""" at the periphery is processed in the thalamus (and subsequently relayed to the cortex of the brain), (2) the degree to which such information is combined with information about external objects, and (3) the neural mechanisms by which this processing occurs. A basic scientific understanding of how perception of self-movement is involved in motor control is currently lacking, and could potentially help us to understand a variety of neurological dysfunctions which result in motor control impairments, such as stroke and paralysis. Such an understanding could also inform the design of neural prosthetic devices aimed at restoring sensation and motor capabilities to patients with such impairments. Currently these prototype devices operate in the absence of somatosensory feedback are are consequently difficult for patients to control. The integration of intrinsic and extrinsic sensations may also be an important part of a broader sense of """"""""self"""""""", which extends beyond the sensorimotor domain and is thought to be an important aspect of the human condition.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
1F31NS066664-01
Application #
7752948
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F02B-Y (20))
Program Officer
Gnadt, James W
Project Start
2009-08-01
Project End
2012-07-31
Budget Start
2009-08-01
Budget End
2010-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$31,644
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Physics
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Whiteley, Samuel J; Knutsen, Per M; Matthews, David W et al. (2015) Deflection of a vibrissa leads to a gradient of strain across mechanoreceptors in a mystacial follicle. J Neurophysiol 114:138-45
Moore, Jeffrey D; DeschĂȘnes, Martin; Kleinfeld, David (2015) Juxtacellular Monitoring and Localization of Single Neurons within Sub-cortical Brain Structures of Alert, Head-restrained Rats. J Vis Exp :
Kleinfeld, David; Moore, Jeffrey D; Wang, Fan et al. (2014) The Brainstem Oscillator for Whisking and the Case for Breathing as the Master Clock for Orofacial Motor Actions. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 79:29-39
Moore, Jeffrey D; Deschenes, Martin; Furuta, Takahiro et al. (2013) Hierarchy of orofacial rhythms revealed through whisking and breathing. Nature 497:205-10
DeschĂȘnes, Martin; Moore, Jeffrey; Kleinfeld, David (2012) Sniffing and whisking in rodents. Curr Opin Neurobiol 22:243-50
Hill, Daniel N; Curtis, John C; Moore, Jeffrey D et al. (2011) Primary motor cortex reports efferent control of vibrissa motion on multiple timescales. Neuron 72:344-56