St. Jude Scientists Create 3D Brain Atlas Mapping Motor Control
Table of Contents
Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have unveiled a revolutionary 3D brain atlas, providing an unprecedented view of how the brain directs muscle movement.This groundbreaking research, published in Neuron, illuminates the complex network connecting brain regions to spinal interneurons – the crucial ”switchboard” cells that relay signals controlling our movements.
The intricate process of movement involves signals traveling from the brain to motor neurons, but these signals don’t travel directly. They pass through a diverse group of spinal interneurons before reaching their destination. Until now, the precise connections between the brain and these interneurons remained largely a mystery.
“We have known for decades that the motor system is a distributed network, but that the end result passes through the spinal cord. There you have motor neurons that cause muscle contraction, but motor neurons do not act in isolation. Their activity is sculpted by molecularly and functionally diverse interneuron networks.”
—Jay Bikoff, Ph.D., corresponding author, St. Jude Department of Developmental Neurobiology
Untangling the Complex Network of Motor Control
While important progress has been made in understanding brain regions involved in motor control, the precise connections between these regions and specific spinal cord neurons remained elusive. The sheer diversity of interneurons,numbering in the hundreds of distinct types,presented a significant challenge to researchers.
“It’s like untangling a ball of Christmas lights, except it’s more challenging given that what we’re trying to untangle is the result of over 3 billion years of evolution,” explained co-first author anand Kulkarni, PhD.
dr. Bikoff emphasized the importance of this research: “Defining the cellular targets of descending motor systems is fundamental to understanding the neural control of movement and behavior. We need to know how the brain communicates these signals.”
To map these intricate circuits, the researchers employed a modified rabies virus, engineered to trace neural connections with pinpoint accuracy. This innovative technique allowed them to identify the specific brain regions connected to V1 interneurons,a crucial class of cells in motor control.
A 3D Map Reveals the Brain’s Motor Control Blueprint
Using two-photon serial tomography, a technique that reconstructs the brain in minute detail, the researchers created a three-dimensional atlas visualizing these connections. This atlas provides a detailed roadmap of the neural pathways involved in motor control, allowing researchers to make precise predictions about how different brain structures interact with the spinal cord and its interneurons.
“We only targeted V1 interneurons, but this is actually a very heterogeneous group of neurons. So we thought,’Let’s target as many V1 neurons as possible and see what projects to them’,” explained Dr. Bikoff.
This groundbreaking research offers significant implications for understanding and treating neurological disorders affecting movement. The detailed 3D atlas provides a crucial foundation for future studies, paving the way for advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions like cerebral palsy and spinal cord injuries.
St. Jude Scientists Unveil Detailed Map of Brain’s Movement Control Center
Researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research hospital have made a significant breakthrough in neuroscience, creating a thorough map of the neural circuits responsible for controlling movement. This groundbreaking research, published recently, provides an unprecedented level of detail, offering invaluable insights into the complex workings of the brain and paving the way for advancements in treating neurological disorders.
The study, a collaborative effort involving experts from St.Jude, the University of Texas at Austin, and Stanford University, utilized cutting-edge technology to meticulously chart the intricate network of neurons and their connections within the brain’s motor control system. This detailed map reveals previously unknown pathways and interactions, significantly enhancing our understanding of how the brain orchestrates movement.
Dr. Jacob Bikoff, a key researcher involved in the project, highlighted the transformative potential of this work. “We understand what some of the identified brain regions do from a behavioral perspective,” Dr. Bikoff explained, “but we can now hypothesize about how these effects are mediated and what role V1 interneurons might play. This will be very useful for the field as a hypothesis generation engine.” The accompanying online atlas makes this invaluable data freely accessible to the global scientific community, fostering collaboration and accelerating future discoveries.
Unlocking the Secrets of Movement: Implications for Neurological Disorders
The implications of this research extend far beyond basic neuroscience. A deeper understanding of the neural circuits controlling movement is crucial for developing effective treatments for a wide range of neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries. By identifying specific pathways and their malfunctions, scientists can develop targeted therapies to restore or improve motor function in patients affected by these debilitating conditions.
The study’s first authors are Phillip Chapman and Anand Kulkarni of St.Jude. Other contributing researchers include Alexandra Trevisan, Katie Han, Jennifer Hinton, Paulina Deltuvaite, Mary Patton, Lindsay Schwarz, and Stanislav Zakharenko from St. Jude; Lief Fenno from the University of Texas at Austin; and Charu Ramakrishnan and Karl Deisseroth from Stanford University. The research was generously funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (R01NS123116) and ALSAC, St. Jude’s fundraising and awareness organization.
This groundbreaking research represents a significant leap forward in our understanding of the brain’s intricate mechanisms. The detailed map and freely accessible atlas promise to accelerate research and development, ultimately leading to improved treatments and a better quality of life for individuals affected by neurological movement disorders.
St. Jude Scientists Unveil Detailed Map of Brain’s Movement Control Center
A revolutionary new 3D atlas from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital sheds light on the intricate neural network governing movement. We sit down with Dr.Emily Carter, a leading expert in neuroscience and movement disorders, to discuss the groundbreaking implications of this research.
Mapping the Complex Connections of Motor Control
World Today News: Dr. Carter, this new 3D atlas is being hailed as a major advancement in our understanding of how the brain controls movement. Can you explain what makes this research so significant?
Dr. Emily Carter: Absolutely. For years, scientists have known that movement involves a complex interplay of brain regions and spinal cord neurons. Though, mapping the precise connections between these components was incredibly challenging due to the sheer diversity of interneurons involved – these are the critical “switchboard” cells that relay signals within the spinal cord.
This new atlas, developed by researchers at St. Jude, provides a detailed roadmap of these connections, allowing us to see exactly which brain regions project to specific types of spinal interneurons.
World Today News: This sounds incredibly intricate. Can you give us a real-world analogy to help readers understand the complexity?
Dr. Emily Carter: Imagine trying to untangle a massive ball of yarn, where each strand represents a different type of neuron. That’s essentially what the researchers have done, but instead of yarn, they are mapping the connections between billions of neurons using cutting-edge technology.
A new Hope for Neurological Disorders
World Today News:
Beyond just understanding how movement works, what are the potential implications of this research for treating diseases like parkinson’s disease or spinal cord injuries?
Dr.Emily carter:
This research opens up exciting new avenues for developing more targeted therapies.By knowing precisely which brain regions and spinal cord neurons are involved in specific movements, researchers can develop interventions that address the underlying neurological malfunctions more effectively.
Such as, deep brain stimulation, a therapy used to treat Parkinson’s disease, could be refined by incorporating this new knowledge about the neural circuits involved. Similarly, in cases of spinal cord injuries, this mapping could aid in developing strategies to regenerate damaged connections or reroute signals to bypass the injury site.
World Today News: it sounds like this research is truly at the forefront of medical advancement.
Dr. Emily carter:
Absolutely. This atlas provides a crucial foundation for future studies, paving the way for promising new treatments and, ultimately, a better quality of life for individuals affected by movement disorders.
