Highlights •Mouse V2a brainstem neurons are excitatory and project to the ventral spinal cord •Optogenetic activation of V2a neurons of the rostral medulla halts locomotion •These “V2a stop neurons” act by depressing locomotor rhythm generation •V2a stop neurons are needed for episodic locomotion
A population of ‘stop cells’ in the brainstem is essential for the ability of mice to stop their locomotion, according to a new study. Researchers report a brainstem pathway specifically dedicated to enforce locomotor arrest; its selective activation stops locomotion, while its silencing favors it. The study thus identifies a novel descending modality essential for gating the episodic nature of locomotor behavior.
Locomotion has an episodic nature: we move when we want or need and, equ...
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