Pre-motor Neural Circuits for Exploratory Movement

描述（由申请人提供）：探索性运动的前运动神经回路动物为了探索外部物体而进行的抽象运动被称为“探索性运动”。人类使用手指/指尖的微妙和复杂的运动来辨别物体的纹理，形状和其他物理属性，并操纵工具。啮齿类动物通过有节奏地扫动触须（“拂动”）来探索它们的物理环境，因此可以作为研究控制探索性触摸运动的神经回路的主要模型。触觉触须的最终共同控制由位于面外侧核（vFMNs）的运动神经元提供。这项建议的目的是发现和表征的“运动前电路”，直接调节活动的vFMNs。 我们将确定的“连接地图”的前运动神经元，提供单突触输入的不同vFMNs控制触须延长和收缩。我们还将确定已鉴定的前运动神经元的“神经递质表型”，并使用电生理学和光遗传学方法表征不同前运动神经元对vFMNs的功能输入。此外，我们将确定vFMN前运动回路的发育变化如何使产后出现双侧协调且通常同步的探索性搅拌行为。识别这些前运动神经回路的结构和功能布线图是研究探索性运动的产生和自主控制的关键步骤。这项研究的结果也将为理解人类手部和手指运动的运动控制提供新的基础，从而有助于设计出上级神经修复装置，以恢复瘫痪或截肢后的探索性运动。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Pre-motor Neural Circuits for Exploratory Movement Abstract Movements performed by animals in order to explore external objects are called "exploratory movements". Humans use delicate and complex movements of fingers/fingertips to discern the texture, shape and other physical properties of objects, and to manipulate tools. Rodents explore their physical environment through rhythmic sweeping of their vibrissae ("whisking"), and thus serve as a major model for studying neural circuits controlling exploratory touch movements. The final common control of the tactile vibrissae is provided by motor neurons located in the lateral facial nucleus (vFMNs). The objective of this proposal is to discover and characterize the "premotor circuitry" that directly regulates the activities of vFMNs. We will identify the "connectivity maps" of premotor neurons that provide monosynaptic input for the different vFMNs controlling vibrissa protraction and retraction. We wil also determine the "neurotransmitter phenotypes" of identified premotor neurons, and characterize the functional inputs of different premotor neurons onto vFMNs using electrophysiological and optogenetic approaches. Furthermore, we will determine how developmental changes in the vFMN premotor circuitry enable the postnatal emergence of bilaterally coordinated and often synchronized exploratory whisking behavior. Identifying the structural and functional wiring diagram of these premotor neural circuits is a critical step for investigating the generation and voluntary control f exploratory movements. Results from this study will also provide new foundations for understanding motor control of hand and finger movements in humans, and thus can help lead to the design of superior neuroprosthetics devices to restore exploratory movements following paralysis or amputation.