Midbrain Ataxia: An Introduction to the Mesencephalic Locomotor Region and the Pedunculopontine Nucleus

Abstract

We suggest that these lesions involve a well-studied but generally unfamiliar area of the dorsal midbrain known as the mesencephalic locomotor region. More specifically, we hypothesize that involvement of the pedunculopontine nucleus, a major component of the mesencephalic locomotor region, may be at least partially responsible for producing midbrain ataxia.