Training and synchrony in the motor system.
Two monkeys trained for >5 years to perform 12 finger and wrist movements had both a greater prevalence of motor cortex neurons with significant effects in spike-triggered averages and a greater ratio of synchrony effects to pure postspike effects than a monkey trained <1 year to perform six movements. By comparison, stimulus-triggered averages were generally similar in all three monkeys, indicating that the increased prevalence of synchrony in spike-triggered averages was a feature of voluntary motor system activity in the monkeys trained for a longer period of time. Synchronization among neurons with relatively direct connections to spinal alpha-motoneuron pools, including motor cortex neurons, may increase as a repertoire of skilled movements is acquired and practiced during long-term training.
Schieber
Marc H
MH
Department of Neurology, The Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, USA. mhs@cvs.rochester.edu
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004576:Electromyography; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D000882:Haplorhini; D007700:Kinetics; D007858:Learning; D009043:Motor Activity; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010507:Periodicity; D014953:Wrist / Q000502:physiology