Neuronal activity in the primate premotor, supplementary, and precentral motor cortex during visually guided and internally determined sequential movements

1991 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 705-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Mushiake ◽  
M. Inase ◽  
J. Tanji
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Delay Period ◽  
Visual Signal ◽  
Visually Guided ◽  
Transitional Phase

1. Single-cell activity was recorded from three different motor areas in the cerebral cortex: the primary motor cortex (MI), supplementary motor area (SMA), and premotor cortex (PM). 2. Three monkeys (Macaca fuscata) were trained to perform a sequential motor task in two different conditions. In one condition (visually triggered task, VT), they reached to and touched three pads placed in a front panel by following lights illuminated individually from behind the pads. In the other condition (internally guided task, IT), they had to remember a predetermined sequence and press the three pads without visual guidance. In a transitional phase between the two conditions, the animals learned to memorize the correct sequence. Auditory instruction signals (tones of different frequencies) told the animal which mode it was in. After the instruction signals, the animals waited for a visual signal that triggered the first movement. 3. Neuronal activity was analyzed during three defined periods: delay period, premovement period, and movement period. Statistical comparisons were made to detect differences between the two behavioral modes with respect to the activity in each period. 4. Most, if not all, of MI neurons exhibited similar activity during the delay, premovement, and movement periods, regardless of whether the sequential motor task was visually guided or internally determined. 5. More than one-half of the SMA neurons were preferentially or exclusively active in relation to IT during both the premovement (55%) and movement (65%) periods. In contrast, PM neurons were more active (55% and 64% during the premovement and movement periods) in VT. 6. During the instructed-delay period, a majority of SMA neurons exhibited preferential or exclusive relation to IT whereas the activity in PM neurons was observed equally in different modes. 7. Two types of neurons exhibiting properties of special interest were observed. Sequence-specific neurons (active in a particular sequence only) were more common in SMA, whereas transition-specific neurons (active only at the transitional phase) were more common in PM. 8. Although a strict functional dichotomy is not acceptable, these observations support a hypothesis that the SMA is more related to IT, whereas PM is more involved in VT. 9. Some indications pointing to a functional subdivision of PM are obtained.

Laterality of Movement-Related Activity Reflects Transformation of Coordinates in Ventral Premotor Cortex and Primary Motor Cortex of Monkeys

2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 2008-2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Kurata
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Visuomotor Transformation ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
Reaching Task ◽  
Ventral Premotor Cortex ◽  
Cortical Motor ◽  
Target Locations

The ventral premotor cortex (PMv) and the primary motor cortex (MI) of monkeys participate in various sensorimotor integrations, such as the transformation of coordinates from visual to motor space, because the areas contain movement-related neuronal activity reflecting either visual or motor space. In addition to relationship to visual and motor space, laterality of the activity could indicate stages in the visuomotor transformation. Thus we examined laterality and relationship to visual and motor space of movement-related neuronal activity in the PMv and MI of monkeys performing a fast-reaching task with the left or right arm, toward targets with visual and motor coordinates that had been dissociated by shift prisms. We determined laterality of each activity quantitatively and classified it into four types: activity that consistently depended on target locations in either head-centered visual coordinates (V-type) or motor coordinates (M-type) and those that had either differential or nondifferential activity for both coordinates (B- and N-types). A majority of M-type neurons in the areas had preferences for reaching movements with the arm contralateral to the hemisphere where neuronal activity was recorded. In contrast, most of the V-type neurons were recorded in the PMv and exhibited less laterality than the M-type. The B- and N-types were recorded in the PMv and MI and exhibited intermediate properties between the V- and M-types when laterality and correlations to visual and motor space of them were jointly examined. These results suggest that the cortical motor areas contribute to the transformation of coordinates to generate final motor commands.

Premotor cortex of monkeys: set- and movement-related activity reflecting amplitude and direction of wrist movements

1993 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Kurata
Keyword(s):  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Delay Period ◽  
Visual Signal ◽  
Activity Change ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
Sustained Activity ◽  
Parallel Processes ◽  
Dorsal Aspect ◽  
Period 2

1. Neuronal activity was recorded from the premotor cortex (PM) of Japanese monkeys while they performed hand movements with different amplitudes and directions. On each behavioral trial, two instructions were given sequentially: 1) an amplitude instruction (large or small) and 2) a direction instruction (flexion or extension). The onset of movement was triggered by a visual signal after a delay period. 2. Among various kinds of task-related neuronal activity recorded in the PM, two types were selected for study: 1) set-related activity, sustained activity change during the delay period that followed presentation of instruction signals (IS); and 2) movement-related activity, activity change immediately before and during movement, which followed the trigger signal (TS) presentation. 3. Thirty-two of 101 set-related neurons showed activity change after presentation of the first IS (Delay 1 set-related activity), when they were instructed in either amplitude or direction, but not both. All of the set-related neurons showed activity modulation after presentation of the second IS (Delay 2 set-related activity). When neurons showed both Delay 1 and Delay 2 set-related activity, they were usually more active during Delay 2, i.e., when the monkeys had received both amplitude and directional ISs. A majority of neurons with Delay 2 set-related activity (64%) showed relation to both movement amplitude and direction. Twenty-eight percent of the neurons showed relation to either amplitude or direction, but not both. These findings seem consistent with a view that serial, rather than parallel, processes of motor programming operate in preparation of intended movements. 4. A majority of PM neurons with movement-related activity (51%) showed activity change related to both the direction and amplitude of movement. Forty-two percent showed selective relation to either direction or amplitude. These findings support a view that PM contributes to the control of limb movements. 5. Histological reconstruction showed that a vast majority of PM set-related neurons were located in the dorsal aspect of the PM (PMd), medial to the arcuate spur and lateral to the superior precentral sulcus. In contrast, movement-related neurons were distributed in two distinct foci: one in the ventral aspect of the PM (PMv), immediately caudal to the genu of the arcuate sulcus and lateral to the spur of the sulcus; and the other in the PMd, overlap;ing the location of set-related neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

scholarly journals Greater Reduction in Contralesional Hand Use After Frontoparietal Than Frontal Motor Cortex Lesions in Macaca mulatta

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren G. Darling ◽  
Marc A. Pizzimenti ◽  
Diane L. Rotella ◽  
Jizhi Ge ◽  
Kimberly S. Stilwell-Morecraft ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Motor Tasks ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Anterior Portion ◽  
Fine Motor Function

We previously reported that rhesus monkeys recover spontaneous use of the more impaired (contralesional) hand following neurosurgical lesions to the arm/hand representations of primary motor cortex (M1) and lateral premotor cortex (LPMC) (F2 lesion) when tested for reduced use (RU) in a fine motor task allowing use of either hand. Recovery occurred without constraint of the less impaired hand and with occasional forced use of the more impaired hand, which was the preferred hand for use in fine motor tasks before the lesion. Here, we compared recovery of five F2 lesion cases in the same RU test to recovery after unilateral lesions of M1, LPMC, S1 and anterior portion of parietal cortex (F2P2 lesion – four cases). Average and highest %use of the contralesional hand in the RU task in F2 cases were twice that in F2P2 cases (p < 0.05). Recovery in the RU task was closely associated with volume and percentage of lesion to caudal (new) M1 (M1c) in both F2 and F2P2 lesion cases. One F2P2 case, with the largest M1c lesion and a large rostral somatosensory cortex (S1r) lesion developed severe contralesional hand non-use despite exhibiting some recovery of fine motor function initially. We conclude that the degree of reduced use of the contralesional hand is primarily related to the volume of M1c injury and that severe non-use requires extensive injury to M1c and S1r. Thus, assessing peri-Rolandic injury extent in stroke patients may have prognostic value for predicting susceptibility to RU and non-use in rehabilitation.

Simultaneous Recording of Macaque Premotor and Primary Motor Cortex Neuronal Populations Reveals Different Functional Contributions to Visuomotor Grasp

2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 488-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Umilta ◽  
T. Brochier ◽  
R. L. Spinks ◽  
R. N. Lemon
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Visual Presentation ◽  
Simultaneous Recording ◽  
Visually Guided ◽  
Reach To Grasp ◽  
Neuronal Populations ◽  
Different Types

To understand the relative contributions of primary motor cortex (M1) and area F5 of the ventral premotor cortex (PMv) to visually guided grasp, we made simultaneous multiple electrode recordings from the hand representations of these two areas in two adult macaque monkeys. The monkeys were trained to fixate, reach out and grasp one of six objects presented in a pseudorandom order. In M1 326 task-related neurons, 104 of which were identified as pyramidal tract neurons, and 138 F5 neurons were analyzed as separate populations. All three populations showed activity that distinguished the six objects grasped by the monkey. These three populations responded in a manner that generalized across different sets of objects. F5 neurons showed object/grasp related tuning earlier than M1 neurons in the visual presentation and premovement periods. Also F5 neurons generally showed a greater preference for particular objects/grasps than did M1 neurons. F5 neurons remained tuned to a particular grasp throughout both the premovement and reach-to-grasp phases of the task, whereas M1 neurons showed different selectivity during the different phases. We also found that different types of grasp appear to be represented by different overall levels of activity within the F5-M1 circuit. Altogether these properties are consistent with the notion that F5 grasping-related neurons play a role in translating visual information about the physical properties of an object into the motor commands that are appropriate for grasping, and which are elaborated within M1 for delivery to the appropriate spinal machinery controlling hand and digit muscles.

scholarly journals Modulation of primary motor cortex outputs from ventral premotor cortex during visually guided grasp in the macaque monkey

2009 ◽  
Vol 587 (5) ◽  
pp. 1057-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gita Prabhu ◽  
Hideki Shimazu ◽  
Gabriella Cerri ◽  
Thomas Brochier ◽  
Rachel L. Spinks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Macaque Monkey ◽  
Visually Guided ◽  
Ventral Premotor Cortex

Neuronal activity in cortical motor areas related to ipsilateral, contralateral, and bilateral digit movements of the monkey

1988 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 325-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Tanji ◽  
K. Okano ◽  
K. C. Sato
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Hand Muscles ◽  
Cortical Motor ◽  
Key Press ◽  
The Right ◽  
Induced Changes

1. Single cell activity was studied in the precentral (PCM), premotor (PM), and supplementary (SMA) motor cortex of the monkey to compare magnitudes of activity changes in relation to ipsilateral, contralateral, and bilateral digit movements. 2. Three Japanese monkeys were trained to press a small key with the right or left hand, or with both hands, in accordance with visual instruction signals given 2.6-5.4 s before a visual movement-trigger signal. Great care was taken to train the animal to use only the required part of the limb. As a result of extensive training, electromyographic (EMG) studies revealed that muscle activities before the key press were limited to the digit and hand muscles of the limb instructed to move. No overt increase or decrease in activity was detectable in the proximal limb or body muscles in relation to the key-press movements or instructions. 3. Even though the movement was thus limited to distal forelimb, distinct ipsilateral relationships were observed in 8.2% of the task-related PCM neurons. They changed their activity before ipsilateral and bilateral (but not before contralateral) key press. 4. A majority of the neurons recorded from the digit area of PCM (mostly limited to the anterior bank of the central sulcus) exhibited a contralateral relationship; namely the activity increased or decreased before the onset of the contralateral and bilateral key-press movements. In most of them, the magnitudes of the activity changes before the contralateral and bilateral movements were similar. 5. In proximal limb and trunk areas of PCM and also in the somatosensory cortex, no neurons were found to exhibit distinct relations to any of the key-press movements. 6. In both SMA and PM, a number of neurons exhibited relationships of the type never or only rarely observed in the primary motor cortex. Thirty-seven percent of SMA and 62% of PM neurons exhibited premovement activity changes before all of the key-press movements. The movement-specific type of activity was observed in 28% of SMA and 16% of PM neurons. In these neurons, the activity changes were observed in relation to only one of the right or left key-press movements or exclusively in relation to the bilateral key press. Neuronal activity resembling the majority of the PCM neurons (contralateral type) was observed in 31% of SMA and 13% of PM neurons. 7. Instruction-induced changes in activity were more often found in the secondary than in the primary motor area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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