From the Guidelines
The primary function of the corticospinal tract (CST) is to transmit motor signals from the brain to the spinal cord, controlling voluntary movements of the body, particularly the limbs 1.
Key Functions
- It is responsible for regulating the contraction and relaxation of muscles, allowing for precise and coordinated movements.
- The CST is divided into two main pathways: the lateral corticospinal tract, which controls the limbs, and the anterior corticospinal tract, which controls the trunk and proximal limb muscles.
Clinical Implications
- Damage to the CST can result in weakness, paralysis, or loss of motor control 1.
- Measures of CST white matter integrity, such as fractional anisotropy (FA), can predict motor outcome and treatment response in patients with stroke 1.
Diagnostic Biomarkers
- The presence of a motor evoked potential (MEP) in response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a strong predictor of good motor outcome 1.
- Combining neuroimaging and neurophysiology biomarkers, such as MRI and TMS, can provide a more accurate prediction of motor outcomes and therapy response 1.
From the Research
Function of the Corticospinal Tract
The corticospinal tract (CST) has several functions, including:
- Modulation of sensory inputs in the spinal cord [ 2 ]
- Conveying motor commands to bulbar or spinal motoneurons [ 3 ]
- Playing a major role in cortical control of spinal cord activity [ 3 ]
- Being the principal motor pathway for voluntary movements [ 3 ]
Motor Control and Recovery
The CST is also involved in:
- Motor recovery after spinal cord injury [ 4, 5 ]
- Enhancing voluntary motor output in motor disorders affecting the CST [ 4 ]
- Promoting recovery of motor function through sprouting of the CST [ 5 ]
Development and Refinement
The development and refinement of the CST is driven by: