[The pathways necessary for eliciting walking by stimulation of the locomotor area of the brain stem]

Abstract

Effects of bilateral lesions of the spinal cord at the upper cervical level on the walking elicited by stimulation of the midbrain or of the spinal cord, were studied in decerebrated cats. The locomotion could be elicited after lesions of the ventral funiculus together with the dorsal part of the lateral funiculus, or of the ventrolateral funiculus only, or of the grey matter. Following large lesions in the ventral half of the spinal cord, the midbrain stimulation elicited no walking, but low-amplitude alternative rhythmic movements could be observed during 1.5-2.0 hours. Nevertheless, the stimulation of the spinal cord (mostly bilateral) elicited the walking.