Adaptive control theory for tuning motor control functions

Neural systems need to adapt and tune their dynamics in the face of changes in the environment. For tuning of the dynamics of motor outputs, the cerebellum is thought to be a key locus of adaptive plasticity.

In this project, we investigate the tuning properties of cerebellar mediated of motor control functions with a focus on a specific function: the maintenance of stable eye position by the oculomotor neural integrator brain region.

We formulate the tuning of the dynamics in this circuit in the language of adaptive control theory and compare the results of our biologically plausible models and learning rules with neural recordings. Our results so far demonstrate that faster plasticity observed in the cerebellum compared with the plasticity at the integrator recurrent connections is due to the online correction and teaching nature of the Purkinje cells output.