Eiman Azim, PhD
Associate Professor, William Scandling Development Chair, Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Sensorimotor circuits for dexterous movement
A critical challenge for the mammalian motor system is managing the intricate coordination of dozens of limb muscles to interact with the world with speed and dexterity. Coordinated movements emerge from dynamic interactions between feedforward command pathways that induce muscle contraction and feedback pathways that report and refine movement. Yet within this general framework, the specific mechanisms by which command and feedback interact remain poorly understood. Combining molecular, anatomical, electrophysiological, behavioral, and modeling approaches in mice, our work focuses on defining how interactions between motor and sensory circuits throughout the neuraxis establish the coordination and precision of dexterous behaviors. I will focus on complementary projects at different ends of the sensorimotor system: circuits that regulate the impact that sensory feedback has on movement, and circuits that adjust feedforward commands to ensure accuracy and precision. 1) While dexterity relies on the constant transmission of sensory information, unchecked feedback can be disruptive to behavior. We have uncovered anatomical and functional circuit architecture in the brainstem cuneate nucleus that can attenuate or amplify tactile feedback from the hands to facilitate successful behavior. We are now exploring how top-down pathways bidirectionally regulate the transmission of somatosensory information to ensure appropriate sensitivity to the environment. 2) The cerebellum is essential for coordinating a vast array of motor behaviors. A prominent theory in the field is that outgoing motor commands are copied and conveyed to the cerebellum to generate predictions of impending movement outcome that can be used to update ongoing motor output. We are exploring the organization and function of cerebellar input and output pathways that facilitate rapid refinement to enable dexterity. Toward these goals, we are also developing new quantitative assays as well computer vision and machine learning-based data analysis approaches for more high-throughput, unbiased perspectives on movement execution.
Relevant Publications:
Modulation of tactile feedback for the execution of dexterous movement
Host(s): March Churchland (Faculty) and Hector Cho (Graduate Student)
Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
This event will be in-person only and will not offer a Zoom option.
Open only to Columbia University and Columbia University Affiliates.
Speaker Location: Jerome L. Greene Science Center, 9th Floor Lecture Hall
Live-stream Location: CUIMC, Neurological Institute First Floor Auditorium
Tuesdays@10 is a signature Zuckerman Institute initiative that aims to expose researchers at all levels to high-quality science and stimulate scientific discourse. The speakers featured in this series represent various fields and techniques in neuroscience, and are either external to Columbia (Columbia Neuroscience Seminars and Special Seminars) or are Columbia faculty members (Local Circuits) invited through a combined, collaborative effort of one or more of the following: Columbia's Zuckerman Institute, the Department of Neuroscience, the Doctoral Program in Neurobiology and Behavior and the Columbia Translational Neuroscience Initiative, and with support from the Kavli Institute for Brain Science.
More information and a full schedule can be found here.