Motor Cortical Control of Reaching

[421582]大脑研究者面临的一个主要挑战是解释从感觉受体到达大脑的信号是如何被翻译成运动命令的。在这项拨款中，马丁博士将研究大脑中被称为运动皮层的区域的组织，以及它与前肢运动转向视觉目标的关系。运动皮层似乎有功能亚区，在这项工作中，我们将通过选择性地、可逆地在运动过程中使运动皮层的部分失活来分析它们。这项研究将增加我们对生物运动控制原理的理解。这种理解应该对机器人控制电路的设计和假肢装置的发展具有重要意义。＊＊＊

9421582 Martin A major challenge facing brain researchers is to explain how signals arriving in the brain from sensory receptors is translated into commands for movement. In this grant, Dr. Martin will examine the organization of the region of the brain known as the motor cortex and its relation to the steering of forelimb movements directed toward visual targets. There appear to be functional subregions of the motor cortex, and they will be analyzed in this work by selectively, and reversibly, inactivating parts of the motor cortex as movements are made. This research will increase our understanding of the principles underlying biological motor control. This understanding should have important implications for the design of robotic control circuitry and the development of prosthetic devices. ***