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Convergence of vestibular and neck proprioceptive sensory signals in the cerebellar interpositus.

Authors :
Luan H
Gdowski MJ
Newlands SD
Gdowski GT
Source :
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience [J Neurosci] 2013 Jan 16; Vol. 33 (3), pp. 1198-210a.
Publication Year :
2013

Abstract

The cerebellar interpositus nucleus (IN) contributes to controlling voluntary limb movements. We hypothesized that the vestibular signals within the IN might be transformed into coordinates describing the body's movement, appropriate for controlling limb movement. We tested this hypothesis by recording from IN neurons in alert squirrel monkeys during vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation produced during (1) yaw head-on-trunk rotation about the C1-C2 axis while in an orthograde posture and (2) lateral side-to-side flexion about the C6-T3 axis while in a pronograde posture. Neurons (44/67) were sensitive to vestibular stimulation (23/44 to rotation and translation, 14/44 to rotation only, 7/44 to translation only). Most neurons responded during contralateral movement. Neurons (29/44) had proprioceptive responses; the majority (21/29) were activated during neck rotation and lateral flexion. In all 29 neurons with convergent vestibular and neck proprioceptive input those inputs functionally canceled each other during all combined sensory stimulation, whether in the orthograde or pronograde posture. These results suggest that two distinct populations of IN neurons exist, each of which has vestibular sensitivity. One population carries vestibular signals that describe the head's movement in space as is traditional for vestibular signals without proprioceptive signals. A second population of neurons demonstrated precise matching of vestibular and proprioceptive signals, even for complicated stimuli, which activated the semicircular canals and otolith organs and involved both rotation and flexion in the spine. Such neurons code body (not head) motion in space, which may be the appropriate platform for controlling limb movements.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1529-2401
Volume :
33
Issue :
3
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
23325256
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3460-12.2013