Contributions of the motor cortex and the cerebellum to a simple learned movement in the monkey
Monkeys were trained to perform isometric plantar flexions of the foot in a simple reaction time situation. In test sessions, the contralateral hindlimb area of the motor cortex was cooled by a cryode placed on the dura until somatosensory evoked potentials disappeared. Movement amplitude decreased...
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Published in | Neuroscience letters Vol. 46; no. 2; p. 235 |
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Main Authors | , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Ireland
04.05.1984
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get more information |
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Summary: | Monkeys were trained to perform isometric plantar flexions of the foot in a simple reaction time situation. In test sessions, the contralateral hindlimb area of the motor cortex was cooled by a cryode placed on the dura until somatosensory evoked potentials disappeared. Movement amplitude decreased to about 70% of initial size; reaction time which was measured on the EMG, and torque signals increased slightly; and the evoked response in the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum remained unchanged. An extensive lesion in the motor cortex by coagulation reduced the movement amplitude to 10% of its preoperational size, but again, did not change reaction time significantly. It is concluded that the motor cortex is not essential for the execution of this overtrained simple movement. |
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ISSN: | 0304-3940 |
DOI: | 10.1016/0304-3940(84)90448-8 |