Sensory-motor Integration in the Primate Cortex

描述(申请人提供)：这项研究的长期目标是通过使用生理和行为方法研究猕猴的大脑皮层，帮助理解运动的感觉控制。重点将放在初级运动、运动前皮质和顶叶皮质在控制肢体、手和头部运动中的作用。一个主要目标是继续当前的研究，即这些区域通过存储的一组行为有用的姿势来代表运动。第二个目标是研究这些大脑区域如何适应练习以前非典型动作的功能。第三个目标是继续研究这一假设，即运动和顶叶皮质的受限区域协调运动，以保护身体免受附近威胁物体的伤害。这些实验将包括使用低电流(微安)对大脑皮质进行电刺激；记录大脑皮质中单个神经元在运动过程中的活动；注射麝香酚，一种暂时使一小片皮质失活的化学物质；以及测量行为和肌肉活动。 这项研究将有助于诊断和治疗由发育异常、疾病、创伤、衰老和异常环境(如水中或外层空间浸泡)引起的感觉-运动功能障碍。拟议的研究也可能有助于肢体假体和用于物体操纵的人工设备的发展。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long term goal of this research is to contribute to the understanding of the sensory control of movement through studies of the cerebral cortex of macaques using physiological and behavioral methods. Emphasis will be placed on the role of primary motor, premotor, and parietal cortex in the control of limb, hand, and head movements. One major aim is to continue current research on the hypothesis that these areas represent movement by means of a stored set of behaviorally useful postures. A second aim is to study how these brain areas adapt as a function of practice with previously atypical movements. A third goal is to continue research on the hypothesis that restricted regions in motor and parietal cortex coordinate movements that defend the body from nearby threatening objects. These experiments will involve electrical stimulation of cortex using low currents (microamps); recording the activity of single neurons in cortex during movement; injection of muscimol, a chemical that temporarily deactivates a small region of cortex; and measuring behavior and muscle activity. This research should contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of sensory-motor function caused by developmental abnormalities, disease, trauma, aging, and unusual environments such as submersion in water or in outer space. The proposed research may also contribute to the development of limb prosthetics and artificial devices for object manipulation.