L6 Flashcards
posture and locomotor control
- righting reflex in decerebrated frog vs spinally-transected
- scratch reflex
present i D but not s-t
scratch = pressent in both = brainstem mediated.
function of postural and locomotor control
control positions of body segments in stable relation to each other and to move the body over varying terrain
main postural reflexes: stretch placing hopping vestibular righting neck
s = muscle stretch
p - object in way, move foot around and place
h - shift in centre of gravity, catch self w foot.
v - head acceleration
r- gravity and pressure on body
n - head movements
response to stretch reflex? integrated?
resist stretch
spinal cord
placing - response? integrated?
lift and place foot forward
spinal cord
hooping response? integrated?
step to catch self
spinal cord, brainstem
vestibular response? integrated?
stabilize head, extend limb in reaction to acceleration
- midbrain
righting response? integrated?
right body
brainstem
neck
think yoga moves
head back, open arms and chest
head forward = contract, close chest.
head left = extend ipsilateral side.
brainstem
context-dependence and adaptation of postural stretch-reflexes: maintain postural stability
ankle extensor stretch = reduce body sway if foot is displaced horizontally, so CNS augments = less sway.
toe-up rotation = destabilizing. CNS attenuates in successive trials. more sway.
context -dependence and adaptation controlled by?
postural muscles activated involuntarily because voluntary movement of limbs
controlled by cerebellum and brainstem reticular fromation. - back actviated before grab something with hand.
stable, variable-speed movement across unpredicatble terrain
solution?
complex cyclical coordination of muscles
adaptation w vision, proprioception, skin receptor feedback
automaticity to “free” higher centers in CNS
locomotor step cycle & muscle activity
stance - extensor
swing = flexor
transition: bi-functional muscles
digitigrade gait
vs plantigrade
walk on toes
walk on flat foot
first basic question:
neural network that sequences muscles in mammalian locomotion in the spinal cord or supraspinal centres?
clinical conditions evidence for supraspinal pattern generation
stroke: poor, absent flexion of hip.
spinal cord injury: paralysis below level of spinal transection
PD: inability to initiate locomotion, suffling steps
cereballar ataxis: unsteady gait, scissoring, high-stepping.
graham browns experiment in cats
anesthetized cats decerebrated, abolishing consciousness.
- leg flexor, extensor could still generate alternating, rhtyhmic movments in response to strong sensory input & elec stim of brainstem.
CPG - in spinal cord
experimental evidence supporting spinal pattern generation
- activating spinal cord below complete transection can elicit locomotr rhyth,
= needs descending drive
clinical evidence support spinal pattern generation
locomotor rhyth, elicited in parapalegic with spinal cord transections with e.stim, clondifine, cyproheptidine.
clondidine- mediate presynatpic inhibition, reduce spasticity and facilitate locomotion.
recovery from cerebellar damage, cortical damage can walk normal.
experimental evidence that descending drive in important
high decerebrate cats - intact midbrain adapt to speed. caudal transections cannot.
- e. stim in MLR of midbrain of decerebrate promotes locomotion. can increase step cycle rate and locomotor velocity.
TMS affects leg flexor more than extensor
neurons rhythmically co-activated with leg muscles, indicating pattern generation role.
second basic question:
locomotor CPG entirely within CNS or sensory afferents part of it?
hypothesis: intrinsic mechanism capable of generating locomotor pattern without sensory input.
- command neurons = activity spontaneously bursts in rhyth,. elicit and coordinate rhythmical activity of neurons controlling limb muscles in absence of sensory input.
experimental evidence for basic rhythm generator in CNS
- rhythmical activity of leg muscles elicited in de-afferented animals.
experimental evidence for CPG being entirely in spinal cord
fictive locomotion: rhythmic activity in decerebrated animals. require IV drugs or steady electrical stimulation of sensory nerve roots to provide generalized CNS excitation.
clinical evidence that sensory contributes to locomotor pattern generation
gait in de-afferented abnormal. incorrect timing, muscle sequencing