Anticipatory activity of motor cortex in relation to rhythmic whisking.
Rats characteristically generate stereotyped exploratory (5-12 Hz) whisker movements, which can also be adaptively modulated. Here we tested the hypothesis that the vibrissal representation in motor cortex (vMCx) initiates and modulates whisking by acting on a subcortical whisking central pattern generator (CPG). We recorded local field potentials (LFPs) in vMCx of behaving Sprague-Dawley rats while monitoring whisking behavior through mystacial electromyograms (EMGs). Recordings were made during free exploration, under body restraint, or in a head-fixed animal. LFP activity increased significantly prior to the onset of a whisking epoch and ended prior to the epoch's termination. In addition, shifts in whisking kinematics within a whisk epoch were often reflected in changes in LFP activity. These data support the hypothesis that vMCx may initiate and modulate whisking behavior through its action on a subcortical CPG.
Friedman
Wendy A
WA
Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA.
Jones
Lauren M
LM
Cramer
Nathan P
NP
Kwegyir-Afful
Ernest E
EE
Zeigler
H Philip
HP
Keller
Asaf
A
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000502:physiology*