Topic: Locomotion initiation

Locomotion initiation and speed control are dependent on activity in the Mesencephalic Locomotor Region (MLR). In mammals the MLR is constituted of glutamatergic neurons in the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) and cuneiform nucleus (CnF) that act together to control locomotion speed. To further understand their contribution in the context of sensory evoked locomotor behaviour, we asked how visually evoked locomotor escape responses in mice are modulated by MLR. To evoke natural escape we used innate looming responses. Using chemogenetic inhibition of targeted Vglut2+ glutamatergic neurons in PPN