Oscillatory activity in forelimb muscles of behaving monkeys evoked by microstimulation in the cerebellar nuclei

• Published in: Neuroscience letters 2004-05, Vol.361 (1), p.106-110
• Main Authors: Aumann, T.D, Fetz, E.E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Action Potentials - physiology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Clocks - physiology; Cerebellar nuclei; Cerebellar Nuclei - cytology; Cerebellar Nuclei - physiology; Efferent Pathways - physiology; Electric Stimulation; Electromyography; Forelimb - innervation; Forelimb - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Limb movement; Macaca nemestrina; Microelectrodes; Monkey; Motor control; Motor Cortex - physiology; Muscle; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - innervation; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - physiology; Thalamus - physiology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Wakefulness; β oscillations
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2003.12.091

Coherent 20–35 Hz (β) oscillations are a prominent feature of activity in primary motor cortex and muscles of monkeys and humans performing voluntary movements. We found that coherent β oscillations are also present in the cerebellar nuclei (CN). Two monkeys were operantly conditioned to perform a wrist flexion/extension step-tracking task while we recorded neuronal activity or microstimulated in CN and recorded EMG activity from forelimb muscles. Coherent β oscillations were found between discharges of some CN neurons and tonically active shoulder, elbow and wrist/finger flexion and extension muscles. Similarly, localized microstimulation pulses in CN evoked transient β oscillations in widespread forelimb muscles. We conclude that coherent motor system β oscillations are present in CN and that CN may be an important nodal point for the generation and/or propagation of β oscillations throughout the motor system.