Cerebellar Synaptic Plasticity and Adaptive Control of Locomotion.

To perform smooth locomotion, animals coodinate not only parts of a limb, but also different limbs. The dynamics of coodination is modified according to changes of external conditions due to obstacles or unexpected perturbation. Formation of the dynamics of the coordinated pattern in space-time is viewed as an important process of motor learning. How is the dynamics of locomotion pattern adjusted to the changes of the external conditions by motor learning? During those motor learning, what happens in the brain? We will present experimental evidence and mathematical simulation that adaptive control of locomotion is involved in the cerebellar synaptic plasticity.