Distinct sensorimotor feedback loops for dynamic and static control of primate precision grip

動的・静的筋力発揮に脊髄と大脳皮質一次運動野の帰還信号のループが別々に関わっていることを発見 --脊髄と脳の役割分担--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2020-04-10.Volitional limb motor control involves dynamic and static muscle actions. It remains elusive how such distinct actions are controlled through separated or shared neural circuits. Here we explored the potential separation for dynamic and static controls in primate hand actions, by investigating the neuronal coherence between local field potentials (LFPs) of the spinal cord and the forelimb electromyographic activity (EMGs), and LFPs of the motor cortex and the EMGs during the performance of a precision grip in macaque monkeys. We observed the emergence of beta-range coherence with EMGs at spinal cord and motor cortex in the separated phases; spinal coherence during the grip phase and cortical coherence during the hold phase. Further, both of the coherences were influenced by bidirectional interactions with reasonable latencies as beta oscillatory cycles. These results indicate that dedicated feedback circuits comprising spinal and cortical structures underlie dynamic and static controls of dexterous hand actions

Characteristics of the SR-evoked potentials in area 3a.

<p>(A) Percent responses evoked by DR and SR stimulations in area 3a. (B) Percent responses evoked by DR and SR stimulations in area 3b/1. (C) Amplitude of the DR- and SR-evoked potentials in area 3a. (D) Latency of the DR- and SR-evoked potentials in area 3a. Error bars in A–D indicated S.E. Asterisk in A–D indicates statistical significance at <i>P</i> < 0.05 using two-sample <i>t</i>-test.</p

Schematic drawing of experimental setting and surface map of the recording sites.

<p>(A) Stimulation of deep radial (DR) and superficial radial (SR) nerves. Three nerve cuffs were implanted: one on the radial nerve trunk (R) at the left forearm, one on the DR, representing primarily muscle afferent input, and one on the SR, representing primarily input from the skin. The DR and SR cuffs were used for electrical stimulation, and the R cuff was used for recording incoming volleys. The nerves were stimulated with biphasic constant-current pulses, 100 μs/phase, at twice the threshold (2T). The electrical stimulation-evoked field potential was recorded from the forearm region at the posterior bank of the CS of the right hemisphere. (B) Cortical surface map of the recording sites in each monkey. The electrode was inserted 8–15 mm at the anterior–posterior level. Gray lines indicate the approximate location of the CS on the cortical surface. Recording sites of the SR- or DR-evoked potentials are indicated by filled circles. Open circles indicate electrode insertions in which intracortical microstimulations were applied and no SEPs were recorded. Body parts activated at the lowest current of the microstimulation are indicated by capital letters. Values indicate the lowest microstimulation current (μA) evoking the movement. “n” indicates no effect up to 200 μA. A: anterior, P: posterior, M: medial, L: lateral.</p