Relations between movement and single cell discharge in the substantia nigra of the behaving monkey

Abstract

In order to clarify the motor functions of the substantia nigra (SN), we studied the activity of single neurons in both the pars compacta (SNpc) and the pars reticulata (SNpr) of behaving primates during performance of a visuomotor arm-tracking task. We also studied the relations of neuronal activity to active movements and passive manipulations of the limbs and other body parts outside the behavioral paradigm.