PSYC 2307 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Premotor Cortex, Postcentral Gyrus, Vestibulospinal Tract

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2307
• Professor: Brian Tansley

Document Summary

Upper motor neurons: originate in layer v of primary motor cortex, forming two separate tracts and terminate in the anterior (ventral) horn at a specific spinal cord segment. Corticobulbar tract: also originates in motor cortex to terminate in the pons and medulla oblongata (voluntary control of facial and jaw muscles, swallowing and tongue movements) Extrapyramidal tracts: other tracts that do not go through the medullary pyramids: e. g. , colliculospinal tract, rubrospinal tract, vestibulospinal tract and reticulospinal tract. There are four regions in the neocortex involves in skilled movement; Posterior cortex (occipital and parietal: specify movement goals and send information to the prefrontal cortex, sends controlled neural signals to lower motor neurons that synapse on muscle. Prefrontal cortex: generates plans for movement. Premotor cortex: selects specific motor programs or actions. Wilder penfield: identified the motor cortex with the use of electrical stimulation.