PhD Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Neuroimage. 2020 Feb 15;207:116354. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116354. Epub 2019 Nov 16.
How neurons coordinate their collective activity for behavioural control is an open question in neuroscience. Several studies have progressively proven, on various scales, that the patterns of neural synchronization change accordingly with behavioural events. However, the topological features of the neural dynamics that underlie task-based cognitive decisions on the small scale level are not understood. We analysed the multiunit activity (MUA) from a multielectrode (96 channels) array of the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) in rhesus monkeys during a countermanding reaching task. Within the framework of graph theory, we found that in the local PMd network motor execution is preceded by the emergence of hubs of anti-correlation that are organized in a hierarchical manner. Conversely, this organization is absent when monkeys correctly inhibit programmed movements. Thus, we interpret the presence of hubs as reflecting the readiness of the motor plan and the irrevocable signature of the onset of the incoming movement.
神经元如何协调它们的集体活动以进行行为控制，是神经科学中的一个开放性问题。多项研究逐步证明，在不同的尺度上，神经同步的模式会随着行为事件而相应变化。然而，在小规模水平上，基于任务的认知决策背后的神经动力学的拓扑特征尚不清楚。我们分析了恒河猴在执行抑制性伸手任务期间，背侧运动前皮层（PMd）多电极（96 个通道）阵列的多单位活动（MUA）。在图论框架内，我们发现，在局部 PMd 网络中，运动执行之前会出现反相关的枢纽，这些枢纽以分层的方式组织。相反，当猴子正确地抑制编程运动时，这种组织就不存在了。因此，我们将枢纽的存在解释为反映了运动计划的准备状态，以及传入运动开始的不可撤销的标志。
