Fastigial unit activity during voluntary movement in primates.
To examine the proposition that fastigial n. of cerebellum provides a fast feedback pathway to suprasegmental structures for spinal information regarding movement. Macaca irus were trained to make flexion and/or extension voluntary wrist movements. Fastigial neuron activity was then correlated with force, velocity, handle position and with shoulder or forearm muscle activity. From 200 units (75% participating), our data establish that fastigial neurons are uniformly recruited after movement onset, processing force-velocity information. Units were found specifically correlated with force or velocity alone. Fastigial activity is strategically placed to provide a 'correction' signal path for motor performance.
D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D008251:Macaca; D009043:Motor Activity; D009068:Movement; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D014955:Wrist Joint