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A neural system for boosting locomotion

Nature Neuroscience volume 13, pages 659–660 (2010)Cite this article

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A newly discovered population of glutamatergic brainstem neurons that can be activated by muscarinic agonists augments transmission from the mesencephalic locomotor region to reticulospinal neurons in the locomotor pathway.

Feeling run down? Like you need a boost in your step? When you're walking down the street, do you feel like you could use something to get you moving faster, something to just keep one foot going in front of the other? Then we've got some good news for you. In this issue of Nature Neuroscience, Smetana et al.1 describe a neural population that helps to increase the intensity of locomotion. This system acts in parallel with previously characterized neural systems involved in the initiation of locomotion to provide a boost to locomotor output.

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Figure 1: Simplified schematic of circuitry involved in the initiation of locomotion in vertebrates.

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  1. The author is at the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Physiology at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

    Matthew C Tresch

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  1. Matthew C Tresch
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Correspondence to Matthew C Tresch.

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The author declares no competing financial interests.

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Tresch, M. A neural system for boosting locomotion. Nat Neurosci 13, 659–660 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn0610-659

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nn0610-659

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