Emerging perspectives for the study of the neural basis of motor behaviour

摘要

The 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society for the Neural Control of Movement (NCM) brought together over 500 experts to discuss recent advancements in motor control. This article highlights key topics from the conference, including the foundational mechanisms of motor control, the ongoing debate over the context-dependency of feedforward and feedback processes, and the interplay between motor and cognitive functions in learning, memory, and decision-making. It also presents innovative methods for studying movement in complex, real-world environments. Exploring the intricate mechanisms by which our brain controls our body and translates intentions into actions is crucial for deepening our understanding of the complex neurophysiological principles underlying human behaviour. Beyond its epistemic scope, this research can lead to groundbreaking innovations in medical technology and rehabilitation strategies, such as neuroprosthetics, and inform cutting-edge fields like robotics and artificial intelligence. The present article discusses some of the latest perspectives in the study of the neural control of movement that emerged during the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society for the Neural Control of Movement (NCM) in Dubrovnik, Croatia (April, 2024). The event brought together over 500 researchers, clinicians, and students to discuss their latest discoveries in the field of motor control. During the conference, researchers from around the world introduced innovative computational models, experimental paradigms, and therapeutic approaches. The conference opened with a satellite meeting on the “Artificial sensorimotor control from restoration to augmentation,” which showcased the latest frontier neurotechnologies, spanning from the restoration of impaired motor functions to the augmentation of existing capabilities. To follow, the main meeting involved a series of panel sessions, individual talks, and poster sessions. Notably, Sam McDougle received the early career award for his work on the interplay between movement and cognition. Eberhard Fetz received the distinguished career award in recognition of his longstanding contribution to the study of the neural control of movement and the Society. The scientific program was organized into several thematic sessions, covering topics such as neural circuits and motor control; computational neuroscience and modeling; motor learning and plasticity; sensory integration and feedback; translational research and clinical applications. Here, we will highlight some of the topics of discussion that emerged during the conference. First, we will focus on the foundational mechanisms of motor control and introduce the debate about the context-dependency of feedforward and feedback processes that has been challenging current theories of motor control. Next, we will highlight the latest perspectives on the understanding of learning, memory, and decision-making in the context of motor control. Finally, we will provide a brief overview of the novel experimental and analytical methods that support the study of movement control in complex, naturalistic conditions that better approximate real-world scenarios. Movement of the body happens through coordinated contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscles at several organizational levels of our nervous system. Some levels of nervous control originate from our central nervous system, and others originate locally, through peripheral feedback pathways, enabling precise corrections for force, speed, and position based on real-time information. Several panels during the 33rd NCM meeting focused on how neural circuits shape motor output. In this section, we will summarize the discussions revolving around (i) behavioural approaches to studying the neural control of movement within the control theoretical paradigm of differentiating feedforward and feedback mechanisms and (ii) how the recent framework centred on viewing motor cortical activity as a dynamical system connects