Gating of Spino-Olivocerebellar Pathways in the Awake Cat

Abstract

The spino-olivocerebellar pathways (SOCPs) are vital in motor control and in the cat, include paths which terminate as climbing fibres in the c1, c2 and c3 zones in the paravermal cerebellar cortex. To date, little is known about any functional differences that may exist between zones, particularly in terms of their climbing fibre input and associated SOCPs. The possibility of operational differences between zones has therefore been investigated in the awake cat. In the present study the aim was to investigate those SOCPs that target the paravermal zones and determine if changes in excitability occur during rest and locomotion.