This document summarizes the premotor cortex, brainstem, and emotional motor systems. It describes the anatomy and functions of the premotor cortex, including its medial and lateral divisions. The brainstem discussion focuses on the vestibulospinal and reticular formation tracts, which are involved in posture adjustment and sensory integration. The emotional motor systems section contrasts the voluntary pyramidal pathway with the extrapyramidal projections originating in limbic structures that activate specific emotional behaviors and gain setting.

1. Domina Petric, MD
Premotor cortex, brainstem and
emotional motor system

2. Premotor cortex includes anterior portion of precentral
gyrus and posterior parts of superior, middle and
inferior frontal gyri.
Premotor cortex gives rise to descending projections
to lower motor neurons.
It is a mosaic of areas with modular organisation.
Premotor cortex

3.  Medial division of the premotor cortex corresponds
as supplementary motor area (SMA).
 There is a part of medial premotor cortex that is
involved in the expression of emotional behavior.
 There is also a part of medial premotor cortex
concerned with organising bimanual activites.
 There is a division concerned with governing
voluntary saccadic eye movements (frontal eye
field).
Premotor cortex, medial part

4.  In the lateral premotor cortex are present areas
that are concerned with organising movements
guided by sensory information, including social
interactions.
 Inferior lateral part is concerned with social
communication.
 Broca´s area is located in the posterior inferior
lateral part of the premotor cortex: this area
organizes the vocal motor apparatus for
production of speech.
Premotor cortex, lateral part

5. Near the Broca´s area are
parts of premotor cortex
concerned with
production of speech in
written form.
Premotor cortex, lateral part

6. There is activation of mirror motor neurons when
we do some movement and when we observe
another person doing the same movement.
Mirror motor neurons are located in lateral
premotor cortex.
These neurons are important in understanding the
intention of some motor act.
Mirror motor neurons

7. II.
BRAINSTEM UPPER MOTOR
NEURONS

8. Reticular formation extends throughout the entire
brainstem.
Lateral and medial vestibulospinal tract: adjustment
of posture.
Lateral vestibulospinal tract from lateral vestibular
nuclei goes ipsilaterally and terminates in the spinal
cord cell group concerned with extensor muscles
tone (primarily in the lower extremities).
Vestibulospinal tracts

9. Medial vestibulospinal tract is
bilateral and terminates among
medial lower motor neuronal
columns, mainly found in the
cervical region of the spinal
cord: vestibulocervical reflexes.
Vestibulospinal tracts

10.  Visceral and somatic motor control.
 Mesencephalic and rostral pontine reticular
formation modulates forebrain activity.
 Caudal pontine and medullary reticular
formation is concerned with premotor
coordination of lower somatic and visceral
motor neuronal pools.
 Reticulospinal system is concerned primarily
with making anticipatory adjustments of
posture.
Reticulospinal tract

11. It is a motor structure
that integrates sensory
information from vision,
audition, pain and
temperature sensation.
Superior colliculus

12. III.
EMOTIONAL MOTOR
SYSTEMS

13. Volitional movement: descending pyramidal and
extrapyramidal projections from motor cortex and
brainstem
Lateral: fine control of
distal muscles of
extremities
Medial: posture and
proximal muscles of
extremities
Brainstem reticular
formation
Motor neuron pools
Motor neurons of cranial nerve nuclei
and ventral horn of the spinal cord
Autonomic preganglionic
neurons
Muscle contraction and
movement
Activation of smooth
muscles and glands
Emotional expression: descending extrapyramidal
projections from limbic centers of ventro-medial
forebrain and hypothalamus
Medial: gain setting,
rhythmical reflexes
Lateral: specific
emotional
behaviors
Pyramidal
pathway
Corticobulbar pathway

14. https://www.coursera.org/learn/m
edical-neuroscience/lecture:
Leonard E. White, PhD, Duke
University
Literature