Synaptic crossroads: navigating the circuits of movement

Abstract

The anterior lateral motor area (ALM) is crucial in preparing and executing voluntary movements through its diverse neuronal subpopulations that target different subcortical areas. A recent study by Xu et al. utilized an elaborate viral tracing strategy in mice to provide comprehensive whole-brain maps of monosynaptic inputs to the major descending pathways of ALM.

Keywords: anterolateral motor cortex; motor planning; projection neurons; retrograde monosynaptic tracing; voluntary movement.