The Hierarchical Circuit for Executive Control of Movement

Abstract

A major challenge in neuroscience research is the understanding of the vast universe of human brain and its mind. In this context, the ability of the mind to control behavior relies upon the executive control of movement. Herein, we focus on the hierarchical circuitry of the brain that exercises the executive control of movement. This executive mechanism spans hierarchically over frontal/parietal/temporal cortices, subcortical structures in basal ganglia and thalamus, brainstem and spinal cord. To address the hierarchical executive mechanism of movement, we will examine its frontal/parietal cortical microcircuits interconnected in thalamo-cortical loops via cortico-striatal projections, and further to the mesencephalic locomotor region and central pattern generators in the spinal cord for locomotor control. Spinal locomotor circuits are enabled by parallel activation/modulation from descending reticulospinal and monoaminergic pathways. The use of various stimulation approaches developed recently is examined in terms of preclinical (animal experiments) and clinical applications to human brain disorders. Future clinical studies on the pathological aspects of movement will employ novel, deep brain stimulation that is capable to function in a closed-loop manner, adjusting therapy delivery to the patient’s level of disease impairment.