The proposed research will provide data on the different contributions of motor, premotor and posterior parietal cortex to the control of complex movements. Electrical microstimulation with long (~ half-second) trains of current pulses delivered via microelectrode to these regions of the cortex evokes complex reaching, grasping, and defensive movements in monkeys and other primates. It has been hypothesized that neurons involved in distinct behaviors are located in separate zones within the frontal and posterior parietal regions and they form series of specialized parieto-frontal circuits. To study the specificity of motor, premotor, and posterior parietal areas and determine their roles in mediating complex motor responses, we propose a series of experiments that will combine the long train stimulation with reversible cortical deactivation. Thus, each of these areas will be partially deactivated with muscimol or lidocaine during stimulation of other areas with long trains and changes in evoked behaviors will be recorded and carefully analyzed. To produce movements similar to those made voluntarily the duration of the stimulus will match the time course of the behavior being studied. Since movement patterns elicited from one area of the parieto-frontal circuit likely depend on interconnections with other areas, we expect that inactivation of the area (or areas) that mediates a specific complex behavior will alter the onset of the stimulus-triggered movements from other areas involved in this behavior. We will use New World owl monkeys that provide a good model for such studies, since their motor, premotor, and parietal areas are exposed on the surface of the brain, so stimulating electrodes can be easily placed in suitable locations. As complex motor behaviors are similar in humans and non-human primates and their motor and posterior parietal regions perform similar functions, results will help to understand human brain functions and impairments. ? ? The proposed research will provide data on the different contributions of motor-related cortical areas to the control of complex movements. Knowledge how these areas link to motor circuits will aid in our understanding of how motor behavior is achieved. As complex motor behaviors are similar in humans and non-human primates and their motor regions perform similar functions, results will help to understand human brain functions and impairments. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03NS055843-01A2
Application #
7385527
Study Section
Sensorimotor Integration Study Section (SMI)
Program Officer
Chen, Daofen
Project Start
2007-09-01
Project End
2009-06-30
Budget Start
2007-09-01
Budget End
2008-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$76,750
Indirect Cost
Name
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
004413456
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37212
Kaas, Jon H; Stepniewska, Iwona (2016) Evolution of posterior parietal cortex and parietal-frontal networks for specific actions in primates. J Comp Neurol 524:595-608
Gharbawie, Omar A; Stepniewska, Iwona; Kaas, Jon H (2016) The origins of thalamic inputs to grasp zones in frontal cortex of macaque monkeys. Brain Struct Funct 221:3123-40
Stepniewska, Iwona; Gharbawie, Omar A; Burish, Mark J et al. (2014) Effects of muscimol inactivations of functional domains in motor, premotor, and posterior parietal cortex on complex movements evoked by electrical stimulation. J Neurophysiol 111:1100-19
Stepniewska, Iwona; Friedman, Robert M; Gharbawie, Omar A et al. (2011) Optical imaging in galagos reveals parietal-frontal circuits underlying motor behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:E725-32
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Stepniewska, Iwona; Fang, Pei-Chun Y; Kaas, Jon H (2009) Organization of the posterior parietal cortex in galagos: I. Functional zones identified by microstimulation. J Comp Neurol 517:765-82
Stepniewska, Iwona; Cerkevich, Christina M; Fang, Pei-Chun Y et al. (2009) Organization of the posterior parietal cortex in galagos: II. Ipsilateral cortical connections of physiologically identified zones within anterior sensorimotor region. J Comp Neurol 517:783-807