Sensory-motor Integration in the Primate Cortex

描述（由申请人提供）：本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，有助于理解运动的感觉控制。重点将放在初级运动、前运动和顶叶皮层在控制肢体、手部和头部运动中的作用。一个主要的目标是继续目前的研究假设，这些区域代表运动的方式是一组存储的行为有用的姿势。第二个目标是研究这些大脑区域如何适应先前非典型动作的练习功能。第三个目标是继续研究一个假设，即运动和顶叶皮层的受限区域协调保护身体免受附近威胁物体的运动。这些实验将包括使用低电流（微安）对大脑皮层进行电刺激；记录运动过程中皮层单个神经元的活动；注射一种叫muscimol的化学物质，这种化学物质能使大脑皮层的一小块区域暂时失活；测量行为和肌肉活动。

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.