Anticipatory countering of motor challenges by premovement activation of orexin neurons. Issue 5 (25th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Donegan, Dane; Peleg-Raibstein, Daria; Lambercy, Olivier; Burdakov, Denis
• Editors: Klann, Eric
• Is Part Of: PNAS nexus. Volume 1:Issue 5(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10-25
• Subjects: motor control -- skilled movements -- hypothalamus -- predictive control; Science -- Periodicals; 505
• DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac240
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2752-6542

Abstract

Abstract: Countering upcoming challenges with anticipatory movements is a fundamental function of the brain, whose neural implementations remain poorly defined. Recently, premovement neural activation was found outside canonical premotor areas, in the hypothalamic hypocretin/orexin neurons (HONs). The purpose of this hypothalamic activation is unknown. By studying precisely defined mouse–robot interactions, here we show that the premovement HON activity correlates with experience-dependent emergence of anticipatory movements that counter imminent motor challenges. Through targeted, bidirectional optogenetic interference, we demonstrate that the premovement HON activation governs the anticipatory movements. These findings advance our understanding of the behavioral and cognitive impact of temporally defined HON signals and may provide important insights into healthy adaptive movements.