Pontine nuclei
Encyclopedia
The pontine nuclei are a part of the pons
involved in motor
activity. Corticopontine fibres carry information from the primary motor cortex
to the ipsilateral pontine nucleus in the ventral pons, and the pontocerebellar projection then carries that information to the contralateral cerebellum via the middle cerebellar peduncle.
They therefore allow modification of actions in the light of their outcome, or error correction, and are hence important in learning motor skills.
Pons
The pons is a structure located on the brain stem, named after the Latin word for "bridge" or the 16th-century Italian anatomist and surgeon Costanzo Varolio . It is superior to the medulla oblongata, inferior to the midbrain, and ventral to the cerebellum. In humans and other bipeds this means it...
involved in motor
Motor neuron
In vertebrates, the term motor neuron classically applies to neurons located in the central nervous system that project their axons outside the CNS and directly or indirectly control muscles...
activity. Corticopontine fibres carry information from the primary motor cortex
Primary motor cortex
The primary motor cortex is a brain region that in humans is located in the posterior portion of the frontal lobe. Itworks in association with pre-motor areas to plan and execute movements. M1 contains large neurons known as Betz cells, which send long axons down the spinal cord to synapse onto...
to the ipsilateral pontine nucleus in the ventral pons, and the pontocerebellar projection then carries that information to the contralateral cerebellum via the middle cerebellar peduncle.
They therefore allow modification of actions in the light of their outcome, or error correction, and are hence important in learning motor skills.