Brain Mechanisms Subserving Sequencing of Multiple Movements

灵长类动物的大脑皮层存在多个运动区。为什么我们有多个运动区域，它们在自主运动控制中的作用是什么？就我们观察到的单个区域相对于相对简单的运动区域的活动变化而言，没有发现明显的活动差异。在本研究中，我们进行了一系列的实验来探讨在时间序列中多重动作控制的基本问题。猴子被训练以六种不同的顺序做三种不同的手臂动作。通过慢性单细胞记录技术，记录了多个运动区域（初级运动皮层、辅助运动区、辅助运动前区和运动前皮层）的细胞活动。研究发现，初级运动皮层主要与个体运动的控制有关。另一方面，辅助运动更关心多个动作的顺序。此外，补充前运动区的神经元活动通常与新运动序列的获得有独特的关系。这些发现为多个运动区域的功能组织提供了基础知识。

There exist multiple motor areas in the cerebral cortex of primates. Why do we have multiple motor areas and what is their usage in voluntary motor control? As far as we observe activity changes in individual areas in relation to relatively simple motor areas, no apparent differences of activity is found. in this research, a series of experiments were performed to ask the fundamenral question in relation to control of multiple movements in temporal sequence. Monkeys were trained to perform three different arm movements in six different sequence. By chronic single-cell recording techniques, cellular activity was recorded from multiple motor areas (primary motor cortex, supplementary motor area, presupplementary motor area, and premotor cortex). It was found that the primary motor cortex is primarily concerned with the control of individual movements. On the other hand, the supplementary motor are is more concerned with sequencing of multiple movements. Further, neuronal activity in the presupplementary motor area were often uniquely related to acquisition of new motor sequence. These findings provide fundamental knowledge about functional organization of multiple motor areas.