title: Heterogeneity of the population of command neurons in the lamprey.
abstract: The effects of signals transmitted from the brain to the spinal locomotor networks by a population of command neurons are determined by specific functional projections of each individual neuron. To reveal these projections, we used a simple vertebrate model, the lamprey, in which responses of the spinal networks to spikes in single reticulospinal axons were detected by using the spike-triggered averaging of the motoneuronal activity. We found that individual neurons exert a uniform effect on the segmental motor output along the whole extent of their axons. Twenty different patterns of effect, that is, combinations of influences on the segmental motoneuron pools, were found. The widespread projections and heterogeneity of the population of command neurons present a basis for formation of different gross motor synergies.
authors.affiliation: The Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Zelenin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grillner
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Orlovsky
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Deliagina
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007798:Lampreys; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009476:Neurons, Efferent / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*