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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 571/3/619    most recent jphysiol.2005.099382v1 Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Miles, O. B. Articles by Marple-Horvat, D. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Miles, O. B. Articles by Marple-Horvat, D. E. Related Collections Neuroscience

¹ Department of Physiology, University of Bristol, School of Medical Sciences, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK

In this study the receipt of visual information by the lateral cerebellum and its contribution to a motor output was studied using single unit recording of cerebellar cortical neurones in cats trained to perform visually guided reaching. The activity of Purkinje cells and other cortical neurones in the lateral cerebellum was investigated in relation to various aspects of the task, such as visual events, parameters of target movement, and limb and eye movements. Two-thirds (66%) of Purkinje cells tested could signal simple visual events, such as a flash of light. Neurones were also capable of detecting other less potent, but behaviourally important visual events, such as a ‘GO’ signal (LED brightening). Half of the cells tested were responsive to the on-going motion of the visual target, displaying tonically altered discharge rates for as long as it was moving, and a ‘preferred’ target velocity. A small proportion of cells showed short latency visual modulation that persisted during the forelimb reach. Anatomical tracing studies confirmed that the recordings were obtained from the D1 zone of crus I. In summary, cells in this region of lateral cerebellar cortex perform simple visual functions, such as event detection, but also more complex visual functions, such as encoding parameters of target motion, and their visual responsiveness is appropriate for a role in accurate visually guided reaching to a moving target.

(Received 28 September 2005; accepted after revision 16 January 2006; first published online 19 January 2006)
Corresponding author D. E. Marple-Horvat: Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement (IRM), Manchester Metropolitan University, Hassall Road, Alsager, Cheshire ST7 2HL, UK. Email: d.e.marple-horvat{at}mmu.ac.uk