加拿大多伦多大学Michael G. Fehlings、Spyridon K. Karadimas和加拿大大学健康网络公司Kajana Satkunendrarajah合作，揭示了躯体感觉皮层如何控制运动。相关论文11月18日在线发表在国际学术期刊《自然—神经科学》上。

研究显示，主要躯体感觉皮层神经元的活动与自由移动小鼠的运动发生和速度密切相关。使用光遗传学、药物遗传学与体内和体外电生理学相结合的方法，研究人员为来自初级体躯体感觉皮层的直接皮质脊髓途径提供证据，宫颈兴奋性神经元突触独立于运动皮层和其他脊髓运动中心来调节腰椎运动网络。刺激该途径提高了运动速度，而抑制该途径则降低运动速度并最终终止运动。该研究揭示了一种神经控制运动的新途径，其中躯体感觉皮层可能通过响应环境因素直接影响运动行为。

研究人员表示，在复杂的环境中行走需要连续不断的高度协调的时空信息。该信息在躯体感觉皮层中进行被处理，长期以来人们一直认为它通过运动皮层产生的下行传导束影响运动。

附：英文原文

Title: Sensory cortical control of movement

Author: Spyridon K. Karadimas, Kajana Satkunendrarajah, Alex M. Laliberte, Dene Ringuette, Iliya Weisspapir, Lijun Li, Simon Gosgnach, Michael G. Fehlings

Issue&Volume: 2019-11-18

Abstract: Walking in our complex environment requires continual higher order integrated spatiotemporal information. This information is processed in the somatosensory cortex, and it has long been presumed that it influences movement via descending tracts originating from the motor cortex. Here we show that neuronal activity in the primary somatosensory cortex tightly correlates with the onset and speed of locomotion in freely moving mice. Using optogenetics and pharmacogenetics in combination with in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, we provide evidence for a direct corticospinal pathway from the primary somatosensory cortex that synapses with cervical excitatory neurons and modulates the lumbar locomotor network independently of the motor cortex and other supraspinal locomotor centers. Stimulation of this pathway enhances speed of locomotion, while inhibition decreases locomotor speed and ultimately terminates stepping. Our findings reveal a novel pathway for neural control of movement whereby the somatosensory cortex directly influences motor behavior, possibly in response to environmental cues.

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0536-7

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-019-0536-7