Skip to main content
Log in

Cerebellar unit responses of the mossy fibre system to passive movements in the decerebrate cat

I. Responses to static parameters

  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

1) Experiments were designed to detect how static parameters of natural, passive hand movements are encoded and integrated within the cerebellar cortex. For this purpose unit activity was recorded extracellularly from presumed mossy fibres (MF), presumed granule cells (GrC) and from Purkinje cells (PC) discharging with simple spikes (SS) and complex spikes (CS). With respect to the PC, our interest was focussed primarily on the SS activity. The recordings were performed in the intermediate part of the cerebellar anterior lobe of decerebrate cats. The animal's forepaw was passively moved around the wrist joint by an electronically controlled device. The movements were exactly reproducible so that peristimulus time histograms of the unit activity could be constructed. 2) At the input level (MF) and at the first level of integration within the cerebellar cortex (GrC), patterns with similar discharge characteristics were found. Such patterns could, to a limited extent, also be detected at the cerebellar output (SS of PC). However, in most cases of SS discharge, patterns were found with weak correlation between the tonic activity and static parameters of the movements. 3) Absolute paw position, amplitude, and duration of movements were found to be related over wide ranges to the activities of MF and GrC. Absolute position is directly encoded by tonic discharge during the low or high holding phases. Beside this, units were found without a correlation between the tonic discharge and the position of the nonmoving paw. However, in these units it was sometimes observed that the information about the momentary position or the information about the mean position was sometimes conveyed exclusively during the proceeding upward or downward movement. Thus, information about static parameters was transmitted only at times when a dynamic parameter (such as velocity) occurred. This type of position information encoding is termed “indirect mode of transmission”. 4) A specific relationship between SS unit activity of PC and the absolute position of the forepaw or amplitude of the movement could be found primarily by using multiple ramps instead of single ramp movements. This was observed even if both types of ramp movements had the same velocity, individual amplitude, and tested range. However, on multiple ramp movements the paw generally remained for a shorter period at a specific position level as compared to the single ramp movements. 5) Apart from this timing phenomenon, a late movement response was observed, which results in a specific type of position information encoding on multiple ramp functions. 6) These results indicate that static parameters of a passive limb movement are conveyed via the MF input to the cerebellar cortex. Patterns related to these parameters undergo a change within the MF-, GrC-, Parallel fibre-, PC-system. Different modes of encoding these parameters were observed depending primarily on the neuronal niveau within the cerebellar cortex. Tonic discharge related e.g. to limb position was found at MF and GrC level. Such patterns resemble, at least to a certain extent, those obtained from different peripheral receptors. The high tonic SS activity never showed such a strong relationship to static parameters as observed at the input level; static parameters could be resolved only within relatively short periods of time, especially during the dynamic phases of the movement or during short periods immediately following these phases. This implies that the function of this part of the cerebellum, which is to provide correction signals, should be considered as a more dynamic process characterized by evaluating predominantly information about the momentary ongoing movement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alonso A, Blanco MJ, Paino CL, Rubia FJ (1986) Distribution of neurons in the main cuneate nucleus projecting to the inferior olive in the cat. Evidence that the differ from those directly projecting to the cerebellum. Neuroscience 18: 671–683

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong DM, Cogdell B, Harvey RJ (1973) Firing patterns of Purkinje cells in the cat cerebellum for different maintained positions of the limbs. Brain Res 50: 452–456

    Google Scholar 

  • Arshavsky YI, Berkinblit MB, Fukson OI, Popova LB, Zakobson VS (1981) The effects of mossy fiber cerebral and spinal inputs on cerebellar Purkinje cells. Neuroscience 6: 1985–1993

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauswein E, Kolb FP, Leimbeck B, Rubia FJ (1983) Simple and complex spike activity of cerebellar Purkinje cells during active and passive movements. J Physiol 339: 379–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauswein E, Kolb FP, Rubia FJ (1984) Cerebellar feedback signals of a passive hand movement in the awake monkey. Pflügers Arch 402: 292–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloedel JR, Ebner TJ, Yu QX (1983) Increased responsiveness of Purkinje cells associated with climbing fiber inputs to neighbouring neurons. J Neurophysiol 50: 220–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgess PR, Wei JY, Clark FJ, Simon J (1982) Signaling of kinesthetic information by peripheral sensory receptors. Ann Rev Neurosci 5: 171–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Burton JE, Onoda N (1978) Dependence of the activity of interpositus and red nucleus neurons on sensory input data generated by movement. Brain Res 152: 41–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Cody FWJ, Moore RB, Richardson HC (1981) Patterns of activity evoked in cerebellar interpositus nuclear neurones by natural somatosensory stimuli in awake cats. J Physiol 317: 1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebner TJ, Bloedel JR (1981a) Correlation between activity of Purkinje cells and its modification by natural peripheral stimuli. J Neurophysiol 45: 948–961

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebner TJ, Bloedel JR (1981b) Role of climbing fiber afferent input in determining responsiveness of Purkinje cells to mossy fiber inputs. J Neurophysiol 45: 962–971

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebner TJ, Yu QX, Bloedel JR (1983) Increase of Purkinje cell gain associated with naturally activated climbing fiber input. J Neurophysiol 50: 205–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Eccles JC, Sabah NH, Schmidt RF, Táboříková H (1972a) Cutaneous mechanoreceptors influencing impulse discharges in cerebellar cortex. I. In mossy fibres. Exp Brain Res 15: 245–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Eccles JC, Sabah NH, Schmidt RF, Táboříková H (1972b) Cutaneous mechanoreceptors influencing impulse discharges in cerebellar cortex. II. In Purkinje cells by mossy fibre input. Exp Brain Res 15: 261–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Eccles JC, Sabah NH, Schmidt RF, Táboříková H (1972c) Cutaneous mechanoreceptors influencing impulse discharges in cerebellar cortex. III. In Purkinje cells by climbing fibre input. Exp Brain Res 15: 484–497

    Google Scholar 

  • Eccles JC, Sabah NH, Schmidt RF, Táboříková H (1972d) Integration by Purkinje cells of mossy and climbing fiber inputs from cutaneous mechanoreceptors. Exp Brain Res 15: 498–520

    Google Scholar 

  • Erismann TH (1972) Grundprobleme der Kybernetik. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert PFC, Thach WT (1977) Purkinje cell activity during motor learning. Brain Res 128: 309–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Iosif G, Pompeiano O, Strata P, Thoden U (1972) The effect of stimulation of spindle receptors and Golgi tendon organs on the cerebellar anterior lobe. II. Responses of Purkinje cells to sinusoidal stretch or contraction of hindlimb extensor muscle. Arch Ital Biol 110: 502–542

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishikawa K, Kawaguchi S, Rowe MJ (1972a) Actions of afferent impulses from muscle receptors on cerebellar Purkinje cells. I. Responses to muscle vibration. Exp Brain Res 15: 177–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishikawa K, Kawaguchi S, Rowe MJ (1972b) Actions of afferent impulses from muscle receptors on cerebellar Purkinje cells. II. Responses to muscle contraction, effects mediated via the climbing fibre pathway. Exp Brain Res 16: 104–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Jänig W, Schmidt RF, Zimmermann M (1970) Single unit responses and the total afferent outflow from the cat's foot pad upon mechanical stimulation. Exp Brain Res 6: 100–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Jennings A, Lamour Y, Solis H, Fromm C (1983) Somatosensory cortex activity related to position and force. J Neurophysiol 49: 1216–1229

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolb FP (1981) Die Sensormotorik der Kleinhirnrinde. Experimentelle Ergebnisse und Funktionsmodell. InauguralDissertation, Technical University of Munich

  • Kolb FP (1983a) A simple method for reliable separation of cerebellar Purkinje cell complex and simple spikes. Pflügers Arch 398: 341–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolb FP (1983b) Results from a simulation model describing a biological, sensory feedback information system. In: Ameling W (ed) Informatik-Fachberichte 71: 587–594

  • Kolb FP, Rubia FJ (1980) Information about peripheral events conveyed to the cerebellum via the climbing fibre system in the decerebrate cat. Exp Brain Res 38: 363–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolb FP, Rubia FJ (1984) Sensory representation of movement parameters in the cerebellar cortex of the decerebrate cat. In: Bloedel et al. (eds) Cerebellar functions. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo, pp 282–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolb FP, Rubia FJ, Bauswein E (1987) Comparative analysis of cerebellar unit discharge patterns in the decerebrate cat during passive movement. Exp Brain Res 68: 219–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Konorski J, Tarnecki R (1970) Purkinje cells in the cerebellum: their responses to postural stimuli in cats. Proc Natl Acad Sci (Pol) 65: 892–897

    Google Scholar 

  • Küpfmüller K, Jenik F (1961) Über die Nachrichtenverarbeitung in der Nervenzelle. Kybernetik 1: 1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsell O (1953) The cerebellum of the cat and the monkey. J Comp Neurol 99: 135–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Leicht R, Rowe MJ, Schmidt RF (1973) Cutaneous convergence on the climbing fiber input to cerebellar Purkinje cells. J Physiol (Lond) 228: 601–618

    Google Scholar 

  • Marini R, Rubia FJ, Kolb FP, Bauswein E (1982) Cortical influence upon cerebellar Purkinje cells responding to natural, peripheral stimulation in the cat. Neurosci Lett 33: 55–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews PBC (1981) Evolving views on the internal operation and functional role of the muscle spindle. J Physiol 320: 1–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Palkovits M, Magyar P, Szentágothai J (1972) Quantitative histological analysis of the cerebellar cortex in the cat. IV. Mossy fiber-Purkinje cell numerical transfer. Brain Res 45: 15–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubia FJ, Kolb FP (1978) Responses of cerebellar units to a passive movement in the decerebrate cat. Exp Brain Res 31: 387–401

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubia FJ, Tandler R (1981) Spatial distribution of afferent information to the anterior lobe of the cat's cerebellum. Exp Brain Res 42: 249–259

    Google Scholar 

  • Rushmer DS, Roberts WJ, Augther GK (1976) Climbing fibre responses of cerebellar Purkinje cells to passive movement of the cat forepaw. Brain Res 106: 1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachs L (1978) Angewandte Statistik, 5. Auflage. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarnecki R, Konorski J (1970) Patterns responses of Purkinje cells in cats to passive displacements of limbs, squeezing and touching. Acta Neurobiol Exp 30: 95–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Thach WT (1967) Somatosensory receptive fields of single units in cat cerebellar cortex. J Neurophysiol 30: 675–696

    Google Scholar 

  • Thach WT (1968) Discharge of Purkinje cells and cerebellar nuclear neurons during rapidly alternating arm movements in the monkey. J Neurophysiol 31: 785–797

    Google Scholar 

  • Thach WT (1970a) Discharge of cerebellar neurons related to two maintained postures and two prompt movements. I. Nuclear cell ouptut. J Neurophysiol 33: 527–536

    Google Scholar 

  • Thach WT (1970b) Discharge of cerebellar neurons related to two maintained postures and two prompt movements. II. Purkinje cell output and input. J Neurophysiol 33: 537–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Thach WT (1978) Correlation of neural discharge with pattern and force of muscular activity, joint position, and direction of intended next movement in motor cortex and cerebellum. J Neurophysiol 41: 654–676

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss TF (1964) A model for firing patterns of auditory nerve fibers. Technical Report No 418 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Research Laboratory of Electronics

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kolb, F.P., Rubia, F.J. & Bauswein, E. Cerebellar unit responses of the mossy fibre system to passive movements in the decerebrate cat. Exp Brain Res 68, 234–248 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00248790

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00248790

Key words

Navigation