Coordination and localization in spinal motor systems

Abstract

We review here experiments examining the hypothesis that vertebrate spinal motor systems produce movement through the flexible combination of a small number of units of motor output. Using a variety of preparations and techniques, these experiments provide evidence for such spinally generated units and for the localization of the networks responsible for producing them within different regions of the spinal cord. Such an organization might help to simplify the production of movement, reducing the degrees of freedom that need to be specified by providing a set of units involved in regulating features common to a range of behaviors.