title: Coordination and localization in spinal motor systems.
abstract: We review here experiments examining the hypothesis that vertebrate spinal motor systems produce movement through the flexible combination of a small number of units of motor output. Using a variety of preparations and techniques, these experiments provide evidence for such spinally generated units and for the localization of the networks responsible for producing them within different regions of the spinal cord. Such an organization might help to simplify the production of movement, reducing the degrees of freedom that need to be specified by providing a set of units involved in regulating features common to a range of behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tresch
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saltiel
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: d'Avella
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bizzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D008322:Mammals; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009337:Necturus; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D014426:Turtles