Complex-spike activity of cerebellar Purkinje cells related to wrist tracking movement in monkey

• DOI: 10.1152/jn.1986.56.1.137
• Publication Date: 2017-12-24T22:50:38Z
• Authors: N. Mano; I. Kanazawa; K. Yamamoto
• Keywords: Purkinje Cells; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Movement; Reaction Time; Action Potentials; Animals; Wrist; Macaca mulatta; Psychomotor Performance

Four rhesus monkeys were trained to perform visually guided wrist tracking movements (50). While they performed tasks by flexion or extension from a neutral position, simple-spike (SS) and complex-spike (CS) discharges of single Purkinje cell (P-cell) recorded intermediate lateral parts cerebellar hemispheres (lobules IV VI) ipsilateral the task-performing wrist. Of approximately 400 P-cells observed, 215 (54%) significantly increased decreased their SS discharge rate during task performance (task-related P-cells). these, 161 selected for analysis CS activity; in these P-cells, we could reliably discriminate between background spike discriminator. The further classified into response locked (n = 65) poorly 96) cells according temporal coupling frequency modulation onset movements. About 60% response-locked showed phasic increase (statistical significance level: P less than 0.01) firing at movement. In few decrease (statistically insignificant) was observed with most an both rapid- slow-tracking larger faster step-tracking movement slower ramp-tracking activity extension; some cells, however, it only either extension. occurred motor time, i.e., after EMG change prime movers before beginning phasically and/or recovery phase modulation. At maintained 0.72 +/- 0.29 CS/s (mean SD task-related Compared did not tonically flexed extended position any P-cells. There no when monkey returned handle center completing task, even that had shown significant tracking.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT WORDS)