A specialized group of neurons that can pause all forms of movement, reflecting a ‘pause-and-play’ pattern, and resume from where it stopped, has been discovered by scientists in the midbrain. While not linked to fear, this discovery could possibly have ties with attention and may assist in elucidating the processes involved in Parkinson’s disease.
A recently conducted mice study has revealed an extraordinary ability of a specific group of neurons in the brain to bring all movement to a halt. This finding significantly advances our comprehension of how the nervous system manages our movements.
Much like a hunting dog stopping in its tracks at the scent of a deer, or a human needing to focus intensely on a complex task, humans also experience similar freeze reactions.
This recent finding helps to clarify what transpires in the brain when we suddenly stop moving.
“Within the midbrain, we’ve identified a cluster of neurons that, when activated, completely inhibit all movement. This isn’t limited to locomotion; it encompasses all forms of motor activity. Even the mice’s respiration slows or ceases, and their heart rate decelerates,” describes Professor Ole Kiehn, a co-author of the study.
The distinctiveness of these neurons lies in their ability to freeze all movement upon activation, akin to pausing a movie. All motion abruptly halts on the spot, according to Ole Kiehn.
Once the activation of the neurons was terminated, the mice resumed movement from where they had stopped, mirroring the action of pressing ‘play’.
Ph.D. Haizea Goñi-Erro, the lead author of the study, elaborates, “This ‘pause-and-play pattern’ is incredibly unique, unlike any patterns of movement or motor arrest previously observed. In this case, movement restarts exactly where it halted, rather than resetting and commencing a new pattern.”
These neurons, stimulated by the researchers, are located in an area of the midbrain known as the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN). What distinguishes these neurons from others is the expression of a specific molecular marker called Chx10. Despite conducting the study on mice, the researchers expect this phenomenon to also occur in humans, since the PPN is found in all vertebrates.
It’s not about fear
While some may attribute this motor arrest to fear, the researchers rule out this possibility.
After comparing this type of motor arrest with the ‘freezing’ experienced in fear, they concluded that they are not the same. Assistant Professor Roberto Leiras, a co-author of the study, insists, “We are quite certain that the cessation of movement observed here is not related to fear. We propose it has more to do with attention or alertness, observable in certain scenarios.”
The scientists suggest that it might be an expression of concentrated attention. Nevertheless, they emphasize that their study does not conclusively prove this, warranting further research.
Insights into Parkinson’s symptoms
This new research could contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms behind Parkinson’s disease.
“Motor arrest or sluggish movement is a primary symptom of Parkinson’s disease. We theorize that these unique neurons in the PPN are overactive in Parkinson’s disease, leading to movement inhibition. Thus, this study, focusing primarily on the basic mechanisms controlling movement in the nervous system, could potentially help us understand the origins of some motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease,” concludes Ole Kiehn.
This study, titled “Pedunculopontine Chx10+ neurons control global motor arrest in mice” by Haizea Goñi-Erro, Raghavendra Selvan, Roberto Leiras, and Ole Kiehn, was published in Nature Neuroscience on 27 July 2023 and was funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Lundbeck Foundation, and the Swedish Research Council.
DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01396-3
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Unique Neurons
What unique ability has been discovered in a group of neurons?
A group of neurons has been discovered that can halt all forms of movement in a ‘pause-and-play’ pattern, which means they can pause movement and restart precisely where it ceased.
Where are these unique neurons located in the brain?
These unique neurons are located in an area of the midbrain known as the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN).
No, this ‘pause-and-play’ pattern of movement is not related to fear. The researchers believe it may be associated with attention or alertness.
How might this discovery help understand Parkinson’s disease?
These neurons might be over-activated in Parkinson’s disease, leading to motor arrest or slow movement, which are primary symptoms of the disease. Thus, understanding these neurons could help us understand some of the mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease.
Who funded the study on these unique neurons?
The study was funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Lundbeck Foundation, and the Swedish Research Council.
More about Unique Neurons
- Novo Nordisk Foundation
- Lundbeck Foundation
- Swedish Research Council
- Nature Neuroscience
- Parkinson’s Disease Information
5 comments
I’m no scientist, but this sounds too good to be true… pause and play movement?? I mean, c’mon!
Absolutely riveting stuff, makes me wish i studied neuroscience!
i wonder if these neurons could be the key to treating Parkinson’s one day? my father suffers from it and i can only hope that these kinds of studies will bring us closer to a cure.
I’d like to see further research in this area. If the results hold up it could drastically change our understanding of motor function. And potentially impact Parkinsons treatment. But as always, cautious optimism is the name of the game in science!
This is fascinating research! I’m always amazed by the brain and all its intricacies. Does this mean we could eventually develop a “pause” button for our bodies? That’d be wild!