Towards an Understanding of Integrative Brain Functions

Intrinsic function of a neuronal network - a vertebrate central pattern generator

Sten Grillner^a,*, Örjan Ekeberg^b, Abdeljabbar El Manira^a, Anders Lansner^b, David Parker^a, Jesper Tegné ^{a, b}, Peter Wallén<sup>a

a</sup>Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden, ^bDepartment of Numerical Analysis and Computing Science, Royal Institute of Technology, S-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden

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Abstract
The cellular bases of vertebrate locomotor behaviour is reviewed using the lamprey as a model system. Forebrain and brainstem cell populations initiate locomotor activity via reticulospinal fibers activating a spinal network comprised of glutamatergic and glycinergic interneurons. The role of different subtypes of Ca²⁺ channels, Ca²⁺ dependent K⁺ channels and voltage dependent NMDA channels at the neuronal and network level is in focus as well as the effects of different metabotropic, aminergic and peptidergic modulators that target these ion channels. This is one of the few vertebrate networks that is understood at a cellular level.

*Corresponding author: Sten.Grillner@neuro.ki.se

Brain Research Reviews 26 (1998) 184-197
Copyright © 1998 Elsevier Science B. V. All rights reserved.