Grant: Operating Grant

Trying to pick up an object that is just out of reach an inherently dangerous activity as it potentially leads to an unstable body position ... and a fall. The same is true of most reaching movements to objects that are outside the support base provided by the feet. To prevent this unfortunate outcome, the central nervous system (CNS) has devised a strategy whereby adjustments of posture obligatorily anticipate the potential destabilisation produced by the movement and provide a stable platform upon which the movement can be superimposed. These postural adjustments are made unconsciously as part of the intention to move and prior experimental evidence, in part from patients with Parkinson's disease, suggests that the basal ganglia may be particularly involved in assuring the planning and coordination of the posture and the movement. One of the major aims of the current experimental program is to determine, by using an animal model, the involvement of the basal ganglia in assuring the coordination of posture and movement.