Sensori-motor activity

Slurred speech, vomiting, apathy, and impaired sensory-motor activities... 

It is most probable that sleep and waking stem from an inherent cycle of neuronal activity that can be influenced dramatically by changes in sensory stimulation. This is demonstrable not only in humans and laboratory animals, but also in invertebrates. Thus, while we cannot be sure that other animals sleep in the same way that we do, they do show a circadian cycle of motor activity. In some (nocturnal) species, such as the rat, this activity is actually highest during darkness. Even aplysia, the sea hare, has such a rhythm but this is more like that of humans in being maximally active during daylight (diurnal). 

On NP tests of gross motor activity and fine motor speed, he was mildly impaired in comparison to adult norms. However, he was able to attain normal performance levels with practice and direct encouragement. It is important to note that all other NP tests of sensory, perceptual, and conceptual functions were in the normal range his minimal errors are often made by normal, nonimpaired 1 ndi vidua1s. 

Dementia is the loss of function in multiple cognitive domains that occurs over a longer period of time, usually months to years. Diagnostic features include memory impairment and at least one of the following aphasia (deterioration of speech), apraxia (impaired ability to execute motor activities despite intact motor abilities, sensory function, and comprehension of the required task), agnosia (failure to recognize or identify objects despite intact sensory function), or disturbances in executive functioning.1... 

Named for the bones of the cranium under which they lie, the lobes are conspicuously defined by prominent sulci of the cortex, which have a relatively constant position in human brains. Each lobe is specialized for different activities (see Figure 6.3). Located in the anterior portions of the hemispheres, the frontal lobes are responsible for voluntary motor activity, speaking ability, and higher intellectual activities. The parietal lobes, which are posterior to the frontal lobes, process and integrate sensory information. The occipital lobes, located in the posterior-most aspects of the cerebrum, process visual information, and the temporal lobes, located laterally, process auditory information. 

An interneuron together with a sensory afferent and motor efferent form a polysynaptic reflex (Figure 2.2) this comprises the initial stage of information input (sensory afferent), the processing/computing an appropriate response (interneurons) and the execution of a behavioural response (motor efferent). The simplest reflexes in the nervous system are monosynaptic reflexes, such as the familiar tendon (knee) jerk, these do not involve an interneuron. The sensory afferent activated by the mechano-receptor (the tap of the patellar hammer) forms a synapse with the motor efferent in the spinal cord, which then causes the skeletal muscle to contract and the crossed leg to jerk forward. With a synaptic delay of 1 millisecond (ms), the time between input and output increases with the number of synapses introduced into the circuit. As an... 

Sensory function, reflexes, motor activity, learning, and memory. 

Kesner RP, Jackson-Smith P, Henry C, Amann K. (1995). Effects of ibogaine on sensory-motor function, activity, and spatial learning in rats. Pharmacol Blochem Behav. 51(1) 103-9. 

Moreover, an UCH (Ap-uch) that interacts with the proteasome was found to be induced by 5-HT, the neurotransmitter that induced long-term facilitation. Ap-uch was found to be critical for the induction of longterm facilitation. Subsequently, Chain et al showed that at sensory-motor neuron synapses, injection of lactacystin, a specific proteasome inhibitor blocked induction of long-term facilitation. Since R subunit inhibits the activity of C subunits of PKA, the results were interpreted to suggest that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway operates to remove inhibitory constraints on the formation of long-term memory. This has been... 

Clinical observations Ophthalmological examination Functional observations (toward end of exposure period - sensory reactivity to stimuli of different types, grip strength, motor activity)... 

Organ weights (spleen, thymus, all animals) Immunotoxicity tests (1) functional tests (either a splenic plaque-forming cell (PEC) assay or an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to determine the response to antigen administration) (2) enumeration of splenic or peripheral blood total B cells, total T cells, and T-cell subpopulations Detailed clinical observations Functional observations (sensory reactivity to stimuli of different types, grip strength, motor activity, more specialized tests on indication)... 

The ICH guideline lists assessment of the effects of the test compound on motor activity, behavioural changes, co-ordination and sensory/motor reflex responses. A so-called functional observation battery or Irwin s battery will cover these parameters. Effects on body temperature should also be measured. 

Central nervous system - behavioural activity, sensory/motor responses and body temperature... 

Pharmacology These agents depress the sensory cortex, decrease motor activity, alter cerebellar function, and produce drowsiness, sedation, and hypnosis. Barbiturates have little analgesic action at subanesthetic doses and may increase the reaction to painful stimuli. All barbiturates exhibit anticonvulsant activity in anesthetic doses. However, only phenobarbital and mephobarbital are effective as oral anticonvulsants in subhypnotic doses. 

In addition to these clearly defined peripheral motor portions of the ANS, large numbers of afferent fibers run from the periphery to integrating centers, including the enteric plexuses in the gut, the autonomic ganglia, and the CNS. Many of the sensory pathways that end in the CNS terminate in the integrating centers of the hypothalamus and medulla and evoke reflex motor activity that is carried to the effector cells by the efferent fibers described previously. There is increasing evidence that some of these sensory fibers also have peripheral motor functions. 

The cerebellum lies posterior to the brainstem and is separated from it by the fourth ventricle. Anatomically it is divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of three lobes (anterior, posterior, and flocculonodular). The function of the cerebellum is to help plan and coordinate motor activity and to assume responsibility for comparing the actual movement with the intended motor pattern. The cerebellum interprets various sensory input and helps modulate motor output so that the actual movement closely resembles the intended motor program. The cerebellum is also concerned with the vestibular mechanisms responsible for maintaining balance and posture. Therapeutic medications are not usually targeted directly for the cerebellum, but incoordination and other movement disorders may result if a drug exerts a toxic side effect on the cerebellum. 

Epilepsy A chronic neurologic disorder characterized by recurrent seizures that are manifested as brief periods of altered consciousness, involuntary motor activity, or vivid sensory phenomena. 

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