Topic: orofacial movements

Noradrenaline (NA) is a ubiquitous neuromodulator largely produced by locus coeruleus (LC) neurons that impacts multiple cognitive processes. Non-invasive methods are used to track LC-NA activity. For instance, pupillometry is shown to be linked to arousal state, LC-NA, and other neuromodulator activity. However, given that pupillometry is a relatively slow process, the extent by which LC-NA can be predicted by pupil is limited. Since movements are linked with increased LC activity, orofacial movements could potentially be used as an additional psychophysiological marker for arousal and LC-N

The brainstem reticular formation (RF) is key for controlling movements, both at the spinal (e.g., trunk, limbs) and at supra-spinal (e.g., orofacial, ocular) levels. Yet, in this heterogenous structure, the specific contributions of discrete cellular populations to identified unitary actions remain poorly understood. The V2a identity (Chx10-expressing) circumscribes a subgroup of glutamatergic neurons along the rostrocaudal axis of the pontomedullary RF. In the mouse, those located in the gigantocellular reticular nucleus (GRN) were shown to control limb and head-related motor components of o