# Dissecting Spinal Interneuron Circuits to Control Skilled Movements

> **NIH NIH R01** · WINIFRED MASTERSON BURKE MED RES INST · 2024 · $546,632

## Abstract

The highly orchestrated muscle activation sequences during motor behaviors are achieved directly through the
fine-tuned firing of motor neurons in the ventral spinal cord. These motor neurons are mainly regulated by spinal
interneurons present in all mammals, which are, in turn, connected to other spinal neurons as well as various
types of descending neurons from the brain, such as corticospinal (CS), reticulospinal and rubrospinal neurons.
Until recently, the identities and functioning of the interneuron subtypes and descending neurons participating in
individual circuits had remained elusive. What remains lacking is knowledge of the arrangement and functional
role of the spinal interneuron subtypes in individual circuits. There is, therefore, a critical need to determine the
anatomical and functional connectivity of these spinal interneuron subtypes and how they regulate motor
behaviors. Our overall objectives in this application are to (i) map anatomical and functional connectivity of
different classes of spinal interneurons (Aims 1 & 2), and (ii) elucidate how those interneurons effect motor
behaviors (Aim 3). Our central hypothesis is that each interneuron subtype will exhibit preferential connections
with distinct descending neurons to control discrete forms of locomotor and skilled movements.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10784609
- **Project number:** 5R01NS115963-05
- **Recipient organization:** WINIFRED MASTERSON BURKE MED RES INST
- **Principal Investigator:** Yutaka Yoshida
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $546,632
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-03-01 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10784609

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10784609, Dissecting Spinal Interneuron Circuits to Control Skilled Movements (5R01NS115963-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10784609. Licensed CC0.

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