An agonist–antagonist cerebellar nuclear system controlling eyelid kinematics during motor learning
The presence of two antagonistic groups of deep cerebellar nuclei neurons has been reported as necessary for a proper dynamic control of learned motor responses. Most models of cerebellar function seem to ignore the biomechanical need for a double activation–deactivation system controlling eyelid ki...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2012-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroanatomy |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnana.2012.00008/full |
| _version_ | 1811238729409363968 |
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| author | Raudel eSánchez-Campusano Agnes eGruart Rodrigo eFernández-Mas José M Delgado-García |
| author_facet | Raudel eSánchez-Campusano Agnes eGruart Rodrigo eFernández-Mas José M Delgado-García |
| author_sort | Raudel eSánchez-Campusano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The presence of two antagonistic groups of deep cerebellar nuclei neurons has been reported as necessary for a proper dynamic control of learned motor responses. Most models of cerebellar function seem to ignore the biomechanical need for a double activation–deactivation system controlling eyelid kinematics, since most of them accept that, for closing the eyelid, only the activation of the orbicularis oculi muscle (via the red nucleus to the facial motor nucleus) is necessary, without a simultaneous deactivation of levator palpebrae motoneurons (via unknown pathways projecting to the perioculomotor area). We have analyzed the kinetic neural commands of two antagonistic types of cerebellar posterior interpositus neuron (types A and B), the electromyographic activity of the orbicularis oculi muscle, and eyelid kinematic variables in alert behaving cats during classical eyeblink conditioning, using a delay paradigm. We addressed the hypothesis that the interpositus nucleus can be considered an agonist–antagonist system controlling eyelid kinematics during motor learning. To carry out a comparative study of the kinetic–kinematic relationships, we applied timing and dispersion pattern analyses. We concluded that, in accordance with a dominant role of cerebellar circuits for the facilitation of flexor responses, type A neurons fire during active eyelid downward displacements ─ i.e., during the active contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle. In contrast, type B neurons present a high tonic rate when the eyelids are wide open, and stop firing during any active downward displacement of the upper eyelid. From a functional point of view, it could be suggested that type B neurons play a facilitative role for the antagonistic action of the levator palpebrae muscle. From an anatomical point of view, the possibility that cerebellar nuclear type B neurons project to the perioculomotor area ─ i.e., more or less directly onto levator palpebrae motoneurons ─ is highly appealing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:46:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a07bc0f180d4c448294e3b6d1d48da5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5129 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:46:07Z |
| publishDate | 2012-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroanatomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a07bc0f180d4c448294e3b6d1d48da52022-12-22T03:32:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroanatomy1662-51292012-03-01610.3389/fnana.2012.0000820425An agonist–antagonist cerebellar nuclear system controlling eyelid kinematics during motor learningRaudel eSánchez-Campusano0Agnes eGruart1Rodrigo eFernández-Mas2José M Delgado-García3Universidad Pablo de OlavideUniversidad Pablo de OlavideInstituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente MuñizUniversidad Pablo de OlavideThe presence of two antagonistic groups of deep cerebellar nuclei neurons has been reported as necessary for a proper dynamic control of learned motor responses. Most models of cerebellar function seem to ignore the biomechanical need for a double activation–deactivation system controlling eyelid kinematics, since most of them accept that, for closing the eyelid, only the activation of the orbicularis oculi muscle (via the red nucleus to the facial motor nucleus) is necessary, without a simultaneous deactivation of levator palpebrae motoneurons (via unknown pathways projecting to the perioculomotor area). We have analyzed the kinetic neural commands of two antagonistic types of cerebellar posterior interpositus neuron (types A and B), the electromyographic activity of the orbicularis oculi muscle, and eyelid kinematic variables in alert behaving cats during classical eyeblink conditioning, using a delay paradigm. We addressed the hypothesis that the interpositus nucleus can be considered an agonist–antagonist system controlling eyelid kinematics during motor learning. To carry out a comparative study of the kinetic–kinematic relationships, we applied timing and dispersion pattern analyses. We concluded that, in accordance with a dominant role of cerebellar circuits for the facilitation of flexor responses, type A neurons fire during active eyelid downward displacements ─ i.e., during the active contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle. In contrast, type B neurons present a high tonic rate when the eyelids are wide open, and stop firing during any active downward displacement of the upper eyelid. From a functional point of view, it could be suggested that type B neurons play a facilitative role for the antagonistic action of the levator palpebrae muscle. From an anatomical point of view, the possibility that cerebellar nuclear type B neurons project to the perioculomotor area ─ i.e., more or less directly onto levator palpebrae motoneurons ─ is highly appealing.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnana.2012.00008/fulltimingmotor learningagonist–antagonist systemcerebellar interpositus neuronsclassical eyeblink conditioningdispersion patterns |
| spellingShingle | Raudel eSánchez-Campusano Agnes eGruart Rodrigo eFernández-Mas José M Delgado-García An agonist–antagonist cerebellar nuclear system controlling eyelid kinematics during motor learning Frontiers in Neuroanatomy timing motor learning agonist–antagonist system cerebellar interpositus neurons classical eyeblink conditioning dispersion patterns |
| title | An agonist–antagonist cerebellar nuclear system controlling eyelid kinematics during motor learning |
| title_full | An agonist–antagonist cerebellar nuclear system controlling eyelid kinematics during motor learning |
| title_fullStr | An agonist–antagonist cerebellar nuclear system controlling eyelid kinematics during motor learning |
| title_full_unstemmed | An agonist–antagonist cerebellar nuclear system controlling eyelid kinematics during motor learning |
| title_short | An agonist–antagonist cerebellar nuclear system controlling eyelid kinematics during motor learning |
| title_sort | agonist antagonist cerebellar nuclear system controlling eyelid kinematics during motor learning |
| topic | timing motor learning agonist–antagonist system cerebellar interpositus neurons classical eyeblink conditioning dispersion patterns |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnana.2012.00008/full |
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