小柯机器人

近日，美国哥伦比亚大学Mark M. Churchland及其研究团队发现，运动皮层能够独立产生序列元素。相关论文于2021年2月22日在线发表在《自然—神经科学》杂志上。

据研究人员介绍，运动序列的快速执行被认为取决于将运动元素融合到整体执行的内聚单元中。

Title: Independent generation of sequence elements by motor cortex

Author: Andrew J. Zimnik, Mark M. Churchland

Issue&Volume: 2021-02-22

Abstract: Rapid execution of motor sequences is believed to depend on fusing movement elements into cohesive units that are executed holistically. We sought to determine the contribution of primary motor and dorsal premotor cortex to this ability. Monkeys performed highly practiced two-reach sequences, interleaved with matched reaches performed alone or separated by a delay. We partitioned neural population activity into components pertaining to preparation, initiation and execution. The hypothesis that movement elements fuse makes specific predictions regarding all three forms of activity. We observed none of these predicted effects. Rapid two-reach sequences involved the same set of neural events as individual reaches but with preparation for the second reach occurring as the first was in flight. Thus, at the level of dorsal premotor and primary motor cortex, skillfully executing a rapid sequence depends not on fusing elements, but on the ability to perform two key processes at the same time. 

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00798-5

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-021-00798-5

Nature Neuroscience：《自然—神经科学》，创刊于1998年。隶属于施普林格·自然出版集团，最新IF：28.771
官方网址：https://www.nature.com/neuro/
投稿链接：https://mts-nn.nature.com/cgi-bin/main.plex