Activity of neurons in the putamen associated with wrist movements in the monkey.

A study was made of 238 neurons in the putamen which exhibited phasic modulation in discharge rate during movements of the wrist against different torque loads. In 65 of these cells, the timing and magnitude of firing closely resembled electromyographic (EMG) activity in forearm agonist muscles at different torque loads. The latency of modulation in unit firing rate in 95% of these cells (n = 62) lagged the onset of EMG activity.