Higher nervous control of quadrupedal and bipedal locomotion in cats and monkeys.

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Attempts were made to study the higher nervous mechanisms involved in the control of quadrupedal locomotion in acute decerebrate cats (locomotor preparation), and quadrupedal and bipedal locomotion in intact, adult Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscasta). New major results of the present study are (1) discovery of the cerebellar locomotor region in cats, and (2) establishment of a monkey model for further analyzes of the higher nervous mechanisms involved in bipedal locomotion. In decerebrate cats, the highest nervous system for locomotor control is the cerebellum and the cerebellar nuclei such as the fastigial nucleus. Systematic electrophysiological studies demonstrated that stimulation of a selected region along the midline of the cerebellar white matter was capable of evoking quadrupedal locomotion on the surface of a moving treadmill. The locomotor driving signals originating from the fastigial nucleus were identified to be transmitted to the final common path (spinal motoneurons) via the fastigioreticular fibers, reticulospinal fibers, and spinal interneurons. This finding indicated that, in contrast to the previous notion that the cerebellum is involved in adapting control of locomotion, the cerebellum was directly involved in the initiation and control of locomotion by activating the fastigial nucleus. In intact monkeys without restraint, it was possible to require them to walk quadrupedally and bipedally on the surface of a moving treadmill. With daily training and gentle reprimand for about 2 years, young monkeys learned a new strategy for executing quadrupedal and bipedal locomotion depending on our requirements. kinematic analyzes showed that walking pattern of these monkeys resembled in many respects to that of the man. Using established monkey models, it became possible to study directly operating manner of the higher nervous system, for example, cortical activities, in relation to execution and control of quadrupedal and bipedal locomotion.