Abstract
During the performance of a rhythmic motor act, the phasic activity of motoneurones is controlled such that each group of motoneurones is made to produce a specific pattern of activity, and so that the coordination between different groups is adequate for the particular motor task. In the study of the neuronal circuitry generating a certain motor act, detailed knowledge about the activity patterns in motoneurones is clearly a natural, and essential, element. It is important, however, to realize that the motoneuronal activity does not necessarily reflect precisely the output pattern from the rhythm-generating circuitry. Other mechanisms, not directly related to the output from the generator network, may also contribute to the pattern of activity seen in motoneurones. It is the purpose of the present paper to review some different mechanisms that may be of importance in controlling the periodic activity of vertebrate motoneurones during a rhythmic motor act. The myotomal motoneurones of the lamprey and their activity during fictive locomotion have been chosen as a starting point for this discussion, which also makes comparisons with other vertebrate systems, in an attempt to evaluate the generality of the phasic control of motoneuronal activity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Berkinblit, M.B., Deliagina, T.G., Orlovsky, G.N. and Feldman, A.G. (1980). Activity of motoneurons during fictive scratch reflex in the cat. Brain Res., 193, 427–438.
Brodin, L. and Grillner, S. (1985). The role of putative excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters in the initiation of locomotion in the lamprey spinal cord. Brain Res. (In press).
Buchanan, J.T. (1982). Identification of Intemeurons With Contralateral, Caudal Axons in the Lamprey Spinal Cord: Synaptic Interactions and Morphology. J. Neurophysiol., 47, 961–975.
Buchanan, J.T. Premotor Interneurons in the Lamprey Spinal Cord: Morphology, Synaptic Interactions, and Activities During Fictive Swimming. In Neurobiology of Vertebrate Locomotion, (eds. S. Grillner, P.S.G. Stein, H. Forssberg, D. Stuart and R. Herman). MacMillan Press, London. (In press)
Buchanan, J. and Cohen, A.H. (1982). Activities of Identified Interneurons, Motoneurons, and Muscle Fibers During Fictive Swimming in the Lamprey and Effects of Reticulospinal and Dorsal Cell Stimulation. J. Neurophysiol., 47, 948–960.
Chandler, S.H. and Goldberg, L.J. (1982). Intracellular Analysis of Synaptic Mechanisms Controlling Spontaneous and Cortically Induced Rhythmical Jaw Movements in the Guinea Pig. J. Neurophysiol., 48, 126–138.
Cohen, A.H. and Wallén, P. (1980). The Neuronal Correlate of Locomotion in Fish. “Fictive Swimming” Induced in an In Vitro Preparation of the Lamprey Spinal Cord. Exp. Brain Res., 41, 11–18.
Conway, B.A., Hultbom, H. and Mintz, I. (1985). Bistable Behaviour of α-motoneurones Induced by i.v. Injection of L-DOPA in the Spinal Cat. Acta Physiol. Scand., 124, Suppl. 542, 70.
Coombs, J.S., Eccles, J.C. and Fatt, P. (1955). The Specific Ionic Conductances and the Ionic Movements Across the Motoneuronal Membrane that Produce the Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential. J. Physiol., 130, 326–373.
Dale, N. (1985). Reciprocal Inhibitory Interneurones in the Xenopus Embryo Spinal Cord. J. Physiol., 363, 61–70.
Dale, N. and Roberts, A. (1985). Dual-component Amino-acid-mediated Synaptic Potentials: Excitatory Drive For Swimming in Xenopus Embryos. J. Physiol., 363, 35–59.
Edgerton, V.R., Grillner, S., Sjostrom, A. and Zangger, P. (1976). Central Generation of Locomotion in Vertebrates. In Neural Control of Locomotion, (eds. R.M. Herman, S. Grillner, P.S.G. Stein and D.G. Stuart). Plenum Press, New York. pp. 439–464.
Feldman, A.G. and Orlovsky, G.N. (1975). Activity of Interneurons Mediating Reciprocal la Inhibition During Locomotion. Brain Res., 84, 181–194.
Goldberg, L.J. and Chandler, S.H. (1981). Evidence for pattern generator control of the effects of spindle afferent input during rhythmical jaw movements. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol., 59, 707–712.
Goldberg, L.J. and Chandler, S.H. (1981). Evidence for pattern generator control of the effects of spindle afferent input during rhythmical jaw movements. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol., 59, 707–712.
Grillner, S. (1974). On the Generation of Locomotion in the Spinal Dogfish. Exp. Brain Res., 20, 459–470.
Grillner, S., Brodin, L., Sigvardt, K. and Dale, N. Rhythmogenesis in the Lamprey Locomotor Network. In Neurobiology of Vertebrate Locomotion, (eds. S. Grillner, P.S.G. Stein, H. Forssberg, D. Stuart and R. Herman). MacMillan Press, London. (In press)
Grillner, S., McClellan, A., Sigvardt, K., Wallén, P. and Wilen, M. (1981). Activation of NMDA-receptors elicits “Fictive locomotion” in lamprey spinal cord in vitro. Acta Physiol. Scand., 113, 549–551.
Grillner, S. and Wallén, P. (1985). The Ionic Mechanisms Underlying N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor-induced, Tetrodotoxin-resistant Membrane Potential Oscillations in Lamprey Neurons Active During Locomotion. Neurosci. Lett., (In press).
Hounsgaard, J., Hultborn, H., Jespersen, B. and Kiehn, O. (1984). Intrinsic Membrane Properties Causing a Bistable Behaviour of α-Motoneurones. Exp. Brain Res., 55, 391–394.
Hounsgaard, J. and Kiehn, O. (1985). Ca++ Dependent Bistability Induced by Serotonin in Spinal Motoneurons. Exp. Brain Res., 57, 422–425.
Jordan, L.M. (1981). Comment: Gating effects and constraints on the central pattern generators for rhythmic movements. Can. J. Physiol., 59, 727–732.
Jordan, L.M. (1983). Factors Determining Motoneuron Rhythmicity During Fictive Locomotion. In Neural Origin of Rhythmic Movements. (eds. A. Roberts and B. Roberts). Cambridge University Press, pp. 423–444.
Kahn, J.A. (1982). Patterns of Synaptic Inhibition in Motoneurons and Interneurons During Fictive Swimming in the Lamprey, as Revealed by C1- Injections. J. Comp. Physiol., 147, 189–194.
Kirkwood, P.A. and Sears, T.A. (1978). The Synaptic Connexions to Intercostal Motoneurones as Revealed by the Average Common Excitation Potential. J. Physiol., 275, 103–134.
McClellan, A.D. and Grillner, S. (1983). Initiation and Sensory Gating of “Fictive” Swimming and Withdrawal Responses in an In Vitro Preparation of the Lamprey Spinal Cord. Brain Res., 269, 237–250.
McCrea, D.A., Pratt, CA. and Jordan, L.M. (1980). Renshaw Cell Activity and Recurrent Effects on Motoneurons During Fictive Locomotion. J. Neurophysiol., 44, 475–488.
Miller, S. and Scott, P.D. (1977). The Spinal Locomotor Generator. Exp. Brain Res., 30, 387–403.
Perret, C. (1983). Centrally Generated Pattern of Motoneuron Activity During Locomotion in the Cat. In Neural Origin of Rhythmic Movements, (eds. A. Roberts and B. Roberts). Cambridge University Press, pp. 405–422.
Perret, C. Synaptic Influences Contributing to the Pattern of Limb Motoneuron Activity During Fictive Locomotion in the Cat. In Neurobiology of Vertebrate Locomotion, (eds. S. Grillner, P.S.G. Stein, H. Forssberg, D. Stuart and R. Herman). MacMillan Press, London. (In press)
Perret, C. and Cabelguen, J.-M. (1980). Main Characteristics of the Hindlimb Locomotor Cycle in the Decorticate Cat With Special Reference to Bifunctional Muscles. Brain Res., 187, 333–352.
Pratt, C.A. and Jordan, L.M. (1980). Recurrent Inhibition of Motoneurons in Decerebrate Cats During Controlled Treadmill Locomotion. J. Neurophysiol., 44, 489–500.
Roberts, A. and Clarke, J.D.W. (1982). The Neuroanatomy of an Amphibian Embryo Spinal Cord. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., 296, 195–212.
Roberts, A. and Kahn, J.A. (1982). Intracellular Recordings From Spinal Neurons During ‘Swimming’ in Paralysed Amphibian Embryos. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., 296, 213–228.
Roberts, A., Kahn, J.A., Soffe, S.R. and Clarke, J.D.W. (1981). Neural Control of Swimming in a Vertebrate. Science, 213, 1032–1034.
Roberts, A., Soffe, S.R. and Dale, N. Spinal Interneurones and Swimming in Frog Embryos. In Neurobiology of Vertebrate Locomotion. (eds. S. Grillner, P.S.G. Stein, H. Forssberg, D. Stuart and R. Herman). MacMillan Press, London. (In press)
Roberts, B.L. and Williamson, R.M. (1983). Motor Pattern Formation in the Dogfish Spinal Cord. In Neural Origin of Rhythmic Movements. (eds. A. Roberts and B. Roberts). Cambridge University Press, pp. 331–350.
Robertson, G.A., Keifer, J. and Stein, P.S.G. (1982). Central Programs for Three Forms of the Turtle Scratch Reflex. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., 8, 159.
Russell, D.F. and Wallén, P. (1980). On the Pattern Generator for Fictive Swimming in the Lamprey, Ichthyomyzon unicuspis. Acta Physiol. Scand., 108, 9A.
Russell, D.F. and Wallén, P. (1983). On the Control of Myotomal motoneurones During “Fictive Swimming” in the Lamprey Spinal Cord In Vitro. Acta Physiol. Scand., 117, 161–170.
Sears, T.A. (1964). The Slow Potentials of Thoracic Respiratory Motoneurones and Their Relation to Breathing. J. Physiol., 175, 404–424.
Sigvardt, K.A. and Grillner, S. (1981). Spinal Neuronal Activity During Fictive Locomotion in the Lamprey Spinal Cord In Vitro. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., 7, 362.
Sigvardt, K.A., Grillner, S., Wallén, P. and van Dongen, P.A.M. (1985). Activation of NMDA Receptors Elicits Fictive Locomotion and Bistable Membrane Properties in the Lamprey Spinal Cord. Brain Res., 336, 390–395.
Soffe, S.R. and Roberts, A. (1982a). Activity of Myotomal Motoneurons During Fictive Swimming in Frog Embryos. J. Neuro-physiol., 48, 1274–1278.
Soffe, S.R. and Roberts, A. (1982b). Tonic and Phasic Synaptic Input to Spinal Cord Motoneurons During Fictive Locomotion in Frog Embryos. J. Neurophysiol., 48, 1279–1288.
Stein, P.S.G. (1983). The Vertebrate Scratch Reflex. In Neural Origin of Rhythmic Movements, (eds. A. Roberts and B. Roberts). Cambridge University Press, pp. 383–403.
Stein, P.S.G. and Grossman, M.L. (1980). Central Program for Scratch Reflex in Turtle. J. Comp. Physiol., 140, 287–294.
Stein, P.S.G., Robertson, G.A., Keifer, J., Grossman, M.L., Berenbeim, J.A. and Lennard, P.R. (1982). Motor Neuron Synaptic Potentials During Fictive Scratch Reflex in Turtle. J. Comp. Physiol., 146, 401–409.
Wallén, P., Grafe, P. and Grillner, S. (1984). Phasic Variations of Extracellular Potassium During Fictive Swimming in the Lamprey Spinal Cord In Vitro. Acta Physiol. Scand., 120, 457–463.
Wallén, P. and Grillner, S. (1985). The Effect of Current Passage on N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced, Tetrodotoxin-resistant Membrane Potential Oscillations in Lamprey Neurons Active During Locomotion. Neurosci. Lett., 56, 87–93.
Wallén, P., Grillner, S., Feldman, J.L. and Bergelt, S. (1985). Dorsal and Ventral Myotome Motoneurons and Their Input During Fictive Locomotion in Lamprey. J. Neuroscience, 5, 654–661.
Wallén, P. and Lansner, A. (1984). Do the Motoneurones Constitute a Part of the Spinal Network Generating the Swimming Rhythm in the Lamprey? J. exp. Biol., 113, 493–497.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1986 The Wenner-Gren Center
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wallén, P. (1986). Phasic Control of Vertebrate Motoneurones During Rhythmic Motor Acts, with Special Reference to Fictive Locomotion in the Lamprey. In: Grillner, S., Stein, P.S.G., Stuart, D.G., Forssberg, H., Herman, R.M. (eds) Neurobiology of Vertebrate Locomotion. Wenner-Gren Center International Symposium Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09148-5_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09148-5_20
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-09150-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-09148-5
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)