Cortical Preparatory Activity: Representation of Movement or First Cog in a Dynamical Machine?

摘要: The motor cortices are active during both movement and preparation. A common assumption is that preparatory activity constitutes a subthreshold form of activity: neuron rightward movements becomes modestly preparation movement. We asked whether this pattern is, in fact, observed. found it was not: at the level single neuron, tuning weakly correlated with movement-period tuning. Yet, somewhat paradoxically, could be captured by preferred direction an abstract "space" described population-level activity. In relationship accounted for responses better than did traditional models. These results expected if provides initial state dynamical system whose evolution produces Our thus suggest may not represent specific factors, instead play more mechanistic role.