Time and frequency characteristics of Purkinje cell complex spikes in the awake monkey performing a nonperiodic task

J Neurophysiol. 2008 Aug;100(2):1032-40. doi: 10.1152/jn.90277.2008. Epub 2008 May 21.

Abstract

A number of studies have been interpreted to support the view that the inferior olive climbing fibers send periodic signals to the cerebellum to time and pace behavior. In a direct test of this hypothesis in macaques performing nonperiodic tasks, we analyzed continuous recordings of complex spikes from the lateral cerebellar hemisphere. We found no periodicity outside of a 100-ms relative refractory period.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Cell Count / methods
  • Cerebellum / cytology
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Functional Laterality
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Nerve Fibers / physiology
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Purkinje Cells / physiology*
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Time Factors
  • Wakefulness*