title: Patterning spinal motor activity in the absence of synaptic excitation.
abstract: Alternate activation of antagonistic muscles across a joint is essential for movement. A new study, by Talpalar et al., in this issue of Neuron highlights the importance of spinal cord inhibitory interneurons in generating motor activity by showing that they can generate alternating flexor-extensor motor neuron firing in the absence of glutamatergic synaptic input.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Crone
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharma