PSL300H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 29: Reticular Formation, Frontal Lobe, Thalamus
Document Summary
Lecture notes: cortical motor areas - complex/volitional movement. Rubrospinal cells within red nucleus activate localized synergies, esp in distal limbs and in the face (gripping / twisting movements of hands) Rubrospinal: from red cell to spinal; axons run from red nucleus to the spinal cord. Involved in primitive movements like gripping, but not as sophisticated as piano playing. Very precisely connected to distal nuclei for limbs, and not much elsewhere. This tract crosses midline to the other side - contralateral. Synapses to the interneurons on the contralateral side. Most ends up in the intermediate here instead of motor neuron directly. Contrasted to the reticulospinal and vestibulospinal tracts that organize widespread postural and locomotory synergies (all over the body to maintain posture) Definition: group of muscles contracting together for a specific purpose. Synergies that are organized by reticulospinal tract are very widespread (half of body) for generating support postures - organized in postural areas.
