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Corticothalamic Interactions

Neuropixels Electrode

Thalamus and Pulvinar

Pulvinar in the primate brain. Medial (mPul), lateral (lPul), und inferior part (iPul). Adapted from: https://scalablebrainatlas.incf.org/macaque/CBCetal15 

 

Corticothalamic Pathway in Reach-to-Grasp Control

The thalamus has extensive reciprocal connections to cortical regions, playing essential roles in sensory processing, cognition, and motor control. It has been shown to modulate cortical activity, gate sensory input, and influence attentional focus. Extensive studies have detailed its role in relaying and filtering sensory information to the cortex and in supporting cortical dynamics essential for perceptual integration and cognition. 

In our research, we focus specifically on the thalamus's role in reach-to-grasp actions, with an emphasis on the pulvinar, a nucleus in the caudal thalamus that integrates visual inputs and modulates communication between frontal and posterior cortices.

The pulvinar-cortex interaction influence attention, working memory, and decision-making, acting as a flexible relay for frontoparietal communication. However, its role in upper limb motor control is still underexplored. Pulvinar neurons exhibit activity changes during reaching movements, and damage in the dorsal pulvinar (dPul) can impair reach and grasp functions. Our research aims to clarify how the pulvinar contributes to the processing visual cues for reach-to-grasp actions and its role in parieto-frontal loops during movement. 

To explore this corticothalamic network, we employ state-of-the-art neural recording technologies, Neuropixels (NHP), along with image-based navigation system. This approach allows simultaneous, high-resolution recordings from multiple cortical areas and the thalamus, providing novel insights into the dynamics of thalamocortical coordination during reach-to-grasp movements. Through this setup, we aim to elucidate the pulvinar’s role within motor circuits, shedding light on its contributions to neural motor control system.