Myoclonic Twitching and Sleep-Dependent Plasticity in the Developing Sensorimotor System

Alexandre Tiriac; Greta Sokoloff; Mark Blumberg

doi:10.1007/s40675-015-0009-9

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Myoclonic Twitching and Sleep-Dependent Plasticity in the Developing Sensorimotor System

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Myoclonic Twitching and Sleep-Dependent Plasticity in the Developing Sensorimotor System

Alexandre Tiriac, Greta Sokoloff and Mark Blumberg

Current sleep medicine reports, Vol.1(1), pp.74-79

03/2015

DOI: 10.1007/s40675-015-0009-9

PMCID: PMC4334153

PMID: 25705581

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Abstract

As bodies grow and change throughout early development and across the lifespan, animals must develop, refine, and maintain accurate sensorimotor maps. Here, we review evidence that myoclonic twitches—brief and discrete contractions of the muscles, occurring exclusively during REM (or active) sleep, that result in jerks of the limbs—help animals map their ever-changing bodies by activating skeletal muscles to produce corresponding sensory feedback or reafference. First, we highlight the spatiotemporal characteristics of twitches. Second, we review findings in infant rats regarding the multitude of brain areas that are activated by twitches during sleep. Third, we discuss evidence demonstrating that the sensorimotor processing of twitches is different from that of wake movements; this state-related difference in sensorimotor processing provides perhaps the strongest evidence yet that twitches are uniquely suited to drive certain aspects of sensorimotor development. Finally, we suggest that twitching may help inform our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders, perhaps even providing opportunities for their early detection and treatment.

Cerebellum

Corollary discharge

General Practice / Family Medicine

Internal Medicine

Otorhinolaryngology

Spinal circuitry

Myoclonic twitching

REM sleep

Neurology

Activity-dependent development

Sleep

Medicine & Public Health

Sensorimotor integration

Sensory feedback

Cardiology

Psychiatry

Details

Title: Subtitle: Myoclonic Twitching and Sleep-Dependent Plasticity in the Developing Sensorimotor System
Creators: Alexandre Tiriac - grid.214572.7 0000000419368294 Delta Center The University of Iowa Iowa City IA 52242 USA
Greta Sokoloff - grid.214572.7 0000000419368294 Delta Center The University of Iowa Iowa City IA 52242 USA
Mark Blumberg - grid.214572.7 0000000419368294 Delta Center The University of Iowa Iowa City IA 52242 USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Current sleep medicine reports, Vol.1(1), pp.74-79
DOI: 10.1007/s40675-015-0009-9
PMID: 25705581
PMCID: PMC4334153
NLM abbreviation: Curr Sleep Med Rep
ISSN: 2198-6401
eISSN: 2198-6401
Publisher: Springer International Publishing; Cham
Language: English
Date published: 03/2015
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Biology
Record Identifier: 9984002350602771

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