01:146:245 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Upper Motor Neuron, Premotor Cortex, Reticular Formation

• School: Rutgers University
• Department: Cell Biology and Neuroscience
• Course: 01:146:245
• Professor: Professor Wilhelms

Document Summary

~indirect pathways from primary motor cortex to spinal cord. ~go from motor cortex to red nucleus or reticular formation. Axons originate in cortex areas that project to lateral spinal cord. Axons originate in cortex areas that project to medial spinal cord. ~premotor area = premotor cortex + supplemental motor cortex (dorsal) ~has reciprocal connections with primary motor cortex and direct axons through corticobulbar/corticospinal pathways. ~involved in intention of movement and movement selection. ~stimulation elicits movement but different from in primary motor cortex, this movement needs greater stimulation than primary motor cortex. ~results in complex movements, engaging both sides of the body. ~primary motor cortex is for execution of movement. ~premotor area is for planning and programming movement. ~upper motor neuron syndrome damage to any pathways of upper motor neurons. ~common because so much of cortex has upper motor neurons and they have long axons. ~damage to motor cortex or descending axons in internal capsule: