Involvement of Human Thalamic Neurons in Internally and Externally Generated Movements

2004 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 1085-1090 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. MacMillan ◽  
J. O. Dostrovsky ◽  
A. M. Lozano ◽  
W. D. Hutchison
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Neuronal Firing ◽  
Button Press ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Means Testing ◽  
Sequential Movements ◽  
Motor Thalamus ◽  
Post Hoc

Several anatomical studies support the existence of recurrent neural pathways from cortical motor areas to the thalamus via basal ganglia and back to the cortex. Neuronal responses to internally and externally generated sequential movements have been studied in the motor and premotor cortex of monkeys, but the involvement of subcortical motor structures such as the thalamus have not been studied in monkeys or humans. We examined the activity of neurons during a sequential button press task in motor thalamus of parkinsonian as well as chronic pain patients undergoing implantation of deep brain stimulating electrodes. Single and dual microelectrode recordings were carried out during an internally generated task with a memorized sequence (MEM) and an externally driven task with the sequence given during task performance (follow). Average histograms of neuronal firing were constructed for each task and aligned with respect to visual cues (ready, go) or button presses (P1, P2, P3). Sequential movements were monitored with surface electromyography and hand accelerometry, and cell responses were divided into movement-defined epochs for ANOVA and post hoc means testing. Of 52 neurons tested, 31 were found to have task-related responses and 10 were task-selective with 4 responding preferentially to MEM and 7 responding preferentially to follow (1 was both). Complex responses were found including preparatory, delay period, and phase- and task-specific activity. These kinds of responses suggest a role of the thalamus in both internally and externally cued arms movement and provide some evidence for a role in sequential movements.

scholarly journals Validating an Academic Group Tutorial Discussion Speaking Test

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Crosthwaite ◽  
Simon Boynton ◽  
Sam Cole
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Active Listening ◽  
Speaking Test ◽  
Group Settings ◽  
Threats To Validity ◽  
Freshmen Students ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Academic Group

<p>This study attempts to validate an academic group tutorial discussion speaking test for undergraduate freshmen students taking initial EAP training at a university in Hong Kong in terms of task, rater and criterion validity. Three quantitative measures (Cronbach’s Alpha, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, and Exploratory Factor Analysis) are used to assess validity of rater scores for the test using a rubric with considerations for assessment of academic stance presentation, inter-candidate interaction, and individual language proficiency. These results are triangulated with post-hoc interview data from the raters regarding the difficulties they face assessing individual proficiency and group interaction over time. The results suggest that current provisions of the rubric in dealing with the assessment of interaction in group settings (namely visual cues such as “active listening” as well as provisions for interruptions in the form of “domination”) are problematic, and that raters are unable to separate the grading of academic stance from the grading of language concerns. We also note affective and cognitive difficulties involved with assessing extended periods of interactional discourse including student talking time (or lack of it), the group dynamic, and raters” personal beliefs and practice as threats to validity that the statistical measurements were unable to capture. A new sample rubric and further suggestions for improving the validity of group tutorial assessments are provided.</p>

scholarly journals Area-specific thalamocortical synchronization underlies the transition from motor planning to execution

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (6) ◽  
pp. e2012658118
Author(s):  
Abdulraheem Nashef ◽  
Rea Mitelman ◽  
Ran Harel ◽  
Mati Joshua ◽  
Yifat Prut
Keyword(s):  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Motor Planning ◽  
Simultaneous Recording ◽  
Delayed Response ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Cortical Cells ◽  
Reaching Task ◽  
Motor Thalamus

We studied correlated firing between motor thalamic and cortical cells in monkeys performing a delayed-response reaching task. Simultaneous recording of thalamocortical activity revealed that around movement onset, thalamic cells were positively correlated with cell activity in the primary motor cortex but negatively correlated with the activity of the premotor cortex. The differences in the correlation contrasted with the average neural responses, which were similar in all three areas. Neuronal correlations reveal functional cooperation and opposition between the motor thalamus and distinct motor cortical areas with specific roles in planning vs. performing movements. Thus, by enhancing and suppressing motor and premotor firing, the motor thalamus can facilitate the transition from a motor plan to execution.

scholarly journals Large-scale functional integration, rather than functional dissociation along dorsal and ventral streams, underlies visual perception and action

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dipanjan Ray ◽  
Nilambari Hajare ◽  
Dipanjan Roy ◽  
Arpan Banerjee
Keyword(s):  
Visual Perception ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Functional Integration ◽  
Predictive Coding ◽  
Dorsal Stream ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Mri Environment

AbstractVisual dual stream theory posits that two distinct neural pathways of specific functional significance originate from primary visual areas and reach the inferior temporal (ventral) and posterior parietal areas (dorsal). However, there are several unresolved questions concerning the fundamental aspects of this theory. For example, is the functional dissociation between ventral and dorsal stream driven by features in input stimuli or is it driven by categorical differences between visuo-perceptual and visuo-motor functions? Is the dual stream rigid or flexible? What is the nature of the interactions between two streams? We addressed these questions using fMRI recordings on healthy human volunteers and employing stimuli and tasks that can tease out the divergence between visuo-perceptual and visuo-motor models of dual stream theory. fMRI scans were repeated after seven practice sessions that were conducted in a non-MRI environment to investigate the effects of neuroplasticity. Brain activation analysis supports an input-based functional dissociation and existence of context-dependent neuroplasticity in dual stream areas. Intriguingly, premotor cortex activation was observed in the position perception task and distributed deactivated regions were observed in all perception tasks thus, warranting a network level analysis. Dynamic causal modelling (DCM) analysis incorporating activated and deactivated brain areas during perception tasks indicates that the brain dynamics during visual perception and actions could be interpreted within the framework of predictive coding. Effectively, the network level findings point towards the existence of more intricate context-driven functional networks selective of “what” and “where” information rather than segregated streams of processing along ventral and dorsal brain regions.

Differential Involvement of Neurons in the Dorsal and Ventral Premotor Cortex During Processing of Visual Signals for Action Planning

2006 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 3596-3616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiji Hoshi ◽  
Jun Tanji
Keyword(s):  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Target Location ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Action Planning ◽  
Visual Signals ◽  
Visual Cue ◽  
Ventral Premotor Cortex ◽  
Neuron Response

We examined neuronal activity in the dorsal and ventral premotor cortex (PMd and PMv, respectively) to explore the role of each motor area in processing visual signals for action planning. We recorded neuronal activity while monkeys performed a behavioral task during which two visual instruction cues were given successively with an intervening delay. One cue instructed the location of the target to be reached, and the other indicated which arm was to be used. We found that the properties of neuronal activity in the PMd and PMv differed in many respects. After the first cue was given, PMv neuron response mostly reflected the spatial position of the visual cue. In contrast, PMd neuron response also reflected what the visual cue instructed, such as which arm to be used or which target to be reached. After the second cue was given, PMv neurons initially responded to the cue's visuospatial features and later reflected what the two visual cues instructed, progressively increasing information about the target location. In contrast, the activity of the majority of PMd neurons responded to the second cue with activity reflecting a combination of information supplied by the first and second cues. Such activity, already reflecting a forthcoming action, appeared with short latencies (<400 ms) and persisted throughout the delay period. In addition, both the PMv and PMd showed bilateral representation on visuospatial information and motor-target or effector information. These results further elucidate the functional specialization of the PMd and PMv during the processing of visual information for action planning.

Functional Lateralization of the Human Premotor Cortex during Sequential Movements

2002 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petr Hlustı́k ◽  
Ana Solodkin ◽  
Rao P Gullapalli ◽  
Douglas C Noll ◽  
Steven L Small
Keyword(s):  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Sequential Movements ◽  
Functional Lateralization

Exploring the effect of eye gaze cues on novel L2 morphosyntactic pattern learning

2020 ◽  
pp. 026765831989682
Author(s):  
Dato Abashidze ◽  
Kim McDonough ◽  
Yang Gao
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Eye Gaze ◽  
Generalization Test ◽  
Pattern Learning ◽  
The Gaze ◽  
Movement Data ◽  
Visual Events ◽  
Static Images ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Gaze Cues

Recent research that explored how input exposure and learner characteristics influence novel L2 morphosyntactic pattern learning has exposed participants to either text or static images rather than dynamic visual events. Furthermore, it is not known whether incorporating eye gaze cues into dynamic visual events enhances dual pattern learning. Therefore, this exploratory eye-tracking study examined whether eye gaze cues during dynamic visual events facilitate novel L2 pattern learning. University students ( n = 72) were exposed to 36 training videos with two dual novel morphosyntactic patterns in pseudo-Georgian: completed events ( bich-ma kocn-ul gogoit, ‘boy kissed girl’) and ongoing actions ( bich-su kocn-ar gogoit, ‘boy is kissing girl’). They then carried out an immediate test with 24 items using the same vocabulary words, followed by a generalization test with 24 items created from new vocabulary words. Results indicated that learners who received the eye gaze cues scored significantly higher on the immediate test and relied on the verb cues more than on the noun cues. A post-hoc analysis of eye-movement data indicated that the gaze cues elicited longer looks to the correct images. Findings are discussed in relation to visual cues and novel morphosyntactic pattern learning.

scholarly journals Inhibition of protein synthesis in M1 of monkeys disrupts performance of sequential movements guided by memory

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Machiko Ohbayashi
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Information Storage ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Sequential Movements ◽  
Action Sequences ◽  
Extended Practice ◽  
Human Motor ◽  
Inhibitor Of Protein Synthesis

AbstractThe production of action sequences is a fundamental aspect of human motor skills. To examine whether primary motor cortex (M1) is involved in maintenance of sequential movements, we trained two monkeys (Cebus apella) to perform two sequential reaching tasks. In one task, sequential movements were instructed by visual cues, whereas in the other task, movements were generated from memory after extended practice. After the monkey became proficient with performing the tasks, we injected an inhibitor of protein synthesis, anisomycin, into M1 to disrupt information storage in this area. Injection of anisomycin in M1 had a marked effect on the performance of sequential movements that were guided by memory. In contrast, the anisomycin injection did not have a significant effect on the performance of movements guided by vision. These results suggest that M1 of non-human primates is involved in the maintenance of skilled sequential movements.

scholarly journals Inhibition of protein synthesis in M1 of monkeys disrupts performance of sequential movements guided by memory

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Machiko Ohbayashi
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Information Storage ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Sequential Movements ◽  
Action Sequences ◽  
Extended Practice ◽  
Inhibitor Of Protein Synthesis

The production of action sequences is a fundamental aspect of motor skills. To examine whether primary motor cortex (M1) is involved in maintenance of sequential movements, we trained two monkeys (Cebus apella) to perform two sequential reaching tasks. In one task, sequential movements were instructed by visual cues, whereas in the other task, movements were generated from memory after extended practice. After the monkey became proficient with performing the tasks, we injected an inhibitor of protein synthesis, anisomycin, into M1 to disrupt information storage in this area. Injection of anisomycin in M1 had a marked effect on the performance of sequential movements that were guided by memory. In contrast, the anisomycin injection did not have a significant effect on the performance of movements guided by vision. These results suggest that M1 of non-human primates is involved in the maintenance of skilled sequential movements.

scholarly journals Show Me More! The Influence of Visibility on Sustainable Food Choices

Foods ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicky Coucke ◽  
Iris Vermeir ◽  
Hendrik Slabbinck ◽  
Anneleen Van Kerckhove
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
Purchase Behavior ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Poultry Products ◽  
Display Area ◽  
Store Environment ◽  
Post Hoc

Visual cues are omnipresent in an in-store environment and can enhance the visibility of a product. By using these visual cues, policy makers can design a choice environment to nudge consumers towards more sustainable consumer behavior. In this study, we use a combined nudge of display area size and quantity of displayed products to nudge consumers towards more sustainable meat choices. We performed a field experiment of four weeks in a butchery, located in a supermarket. The size of the display area and quantity of displayed poultry products, serving as the nudging intervention, were increased, whereas these were decreased for less sustainable meat products. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of our nudging intervention, we also collected data from a control store and performed a pre-and post-intervention measurement. We kept records of the sales data of the sold meat (amount of weight & revenue). When conducting a three-way ANOVA and post hoc contrast tests, we found that the sales of poultry increased during the nudging intervention, but did not decrease for less sustainable meat products. When removing the nudge again, the sales of poultry decreased again significantly in the experimental store. Changing the size of display area and the amount of products displayed in this display area created a shift in the consumers’ purchase behavior of meat.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document