Houston Methodist Academic Institute – Center for Neuroregeneration Lecture Series

Neural Mechanisms of Volitional Movement
The goal of the Nuo Li Lab is to understand how neural circuits in the brain give rise to volitional movement. A planning phase precedes all volitional movements in which the brain programs appropriate movement on the fly to achieve the goal. This fundamental process dictates behavior, ranging from speech to motor skills. The Li Lab’s work has isolated neural antecedents of volitional movements. Dr. Li will discuss his lab’s progress in delineating a brain-wide motor planning circuit and how preparatory activity instructs movement.