Insight into sensory-motor integration in genetically defined spinal interneurons

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Locomotor behaviour involves a complex pattern of muscle activation. Neural networks located in spinal cord are required for the generation and pattern of these locomotor movements. However, to ensure smooth and coordinated locomotor activity, these neural networks receive descending input from neuromodulatory centres and afferent input during on-going locomotion. With the advancement of genetic approaches to visualize and manipulate specific neuronal population in the spinal cord, we have begun to understand the roles that distinct neural populations have in producing locomotor behaviours. However, these approaches typically involve silencing or inactivating an entire population of spinal neurons and then examining for a phenotype or deficit in locomotor behaviours. To complement these approaches, fundamental investigations at the cellular and local network level are needed to increase our understanding of the underlying connectivity involved in producing smooth and coordinated locomotor activity. My research program focuses on understanding the cellular and local network activity of “genetically defined” spinal neurons involved in locomotor behaviours. The proposed research will determine the cellular and network activity patterns of genetic defined spinal neurons during locomotor-like activity, and how these neurons respond to neuromodulation and afferent stimulation. To achieve this, in transgenic mouse models, I will use a combination of in-vitro whole cell-patch electrophysiology and calcium imaging to investigate both the cellular and networks responses to application of various neuromodulators, during locomotion and in response to graded afferent stimulation. These studies will provide essential information in understanding the cellular responses of spinal neuron involved in locomotor activity and provide important knowledge regarding our current conceptual framework of how spinal networks produce locomotion and respond to descending neuromodulation and afferent inputs.