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Cortical dynamics of sensorimotor integration during reaching and grasping

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During the control of reaching and grasping, motor commands must be integrated with sensory feedback to enable robust movements, though it remains unclear how sensorimotor cortical areas achieve this integration. In recent years, modern analytical approaches based on population dynamics have increased our understanding of the cortical control of reaching. Yet, these methods have largely treated motor cortical activity as a feedforward generator of movement. In my talk, I will explore the effect of sensory feedback on primary motor (M1) and somatosensory (S1) cortical activity. First, I will show a surprising impact of sensory stimulation on motor cortical dynamics. Intriguingly, this effect had little behavioral consequence, highlighting the natural robustness of the movement-related cortical dynamics and a possible independence of movement- and sensory-related information. I will then explore the hypothesis that such dissociation between sensory and motor dynamics is enabled by interactions within low-dimensional “communication subspaces” relating the M1 and S1 population activity. In an unconstrained reaching and grasping task, these subspaces exhibit distinct dynamical features, transitioning between largely input-driven sensory-related dynamics in S1 to the smooth, rotational dynamics commonly observed within M1. Using this framework, I will illustrate that inputs to M1 influence the cortical dynamics to enable corrections to behavioral errors. This work provides a novel approach to disentangling specific dynamical features within cortical population activity and highlights the importance of sensory feedback for motor cortical dynamics.

Referent

Matthew G. Perich
Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Switzerlan

Journey Description

Map

E - Main Entrance/Reception
1 - Managing Board; sections: Infection Biology Unit, Unit of Infection Models, Laboratory Animal Science Unit, Primate Genetics Laboratory, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, Neurobiology Laboratory, Research Coordination, Public Relations, Information Technology, Administration, Technical Support, Library.
2 - Material Delivery/Purchase
3 - Platform Degenerative Diseases
4 - Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory
5 - Animal Husbandry
6 - Imaging Center, Functional Imaging Laboratory


Arrival by car

Leave the interstate A7 at exit "Göttingen Nord". Follow the B27 straight ahead in the direction of "Braunlage". After the third traffic light intersection turn right towards "Kliniken". Afterwards turn left onto "Robert-Koch-Straße" direction "Universität Nordbereich/Polizei". At the end of "Robert-Koch-Straße" turn right onto "Otto-Hahn-Straße", direction "Nikolausberg". The first street on the left turn onto "Kellnerweg", follow the signs "Deutsches Primatenzentrum".


Arrival by bus

The footpath from the bus stop "Kellnerweg" to the Main Entrance/Reception: 
From Bus stop "Kellnerweg" (line 21/22 and 23) Cross the road, go in the direction of the bus. At the mailbox, turn left into the footpath and proceed to the end. Turn right into the Kellnerweg. The main entrance of the DPZ is on the left side.

Date and Time 23.05.19 - 16:15 - 17:15 Signup is not required

Location Neuer Hörsaal/New Lecture Hall
Deutsches Primatenzentrum
Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung
Kellnerweg 4
37077 Göttingen

Organiser

Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH

Contact Swathi Sheshadri
Neurobiology lab
Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH
37077 Göttingen
Tel: +49 551 3851-484
email: SSheshadri@dpz.eu

Dr. Benjamin Dann
Neurobiology lab
Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH
37077 Göttingen
Tel: +49 551 3851-484
email: BDann@dpz.eu
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