Brain with interconnected neural pathways and animals running across

Unlocking the Secrets of Movement: How Animal Research is Revolutionizing Our Understanding of the Brain

Elliot Brynn in Science & Nature August 2025 • 4 min read.

"From basic locomotion to complex cognitive functions, animal studies are providing invaluable insights into how the brain works during free movement, paving the way for new treatments and technologies for humans."

Animals, much like humans, are masters of movement. They navigate their surroundings, hunt for food, and escape danger, all while relying on intricate cognitive processes. These behaviors provide a window into the brain's inner workings, revealing how it orchestrates complex actions. While humans communicate verbally, animals often rely on movement to express their needs and intentions, making the study of movement essential to understanding their cognitive abilities.

Studying freely moving animals presents unique challenges, but neuroscientists have risen to the occasion with innovative techniques that allow them to record brain activity while animals engage in natural behaviors. This research is revolutionizing our understanding of the brain, offering insights that would be impossible to obtain through traditional methods.

In this article, we'll explore how animal research is unlocking the secrets of movement and providing invaluable insights into human cognition. We'll delve into the methods used to study the brain in motion, the key findings that have emerged, and the potential for this research to transform our understanding of movement disorders, cognitive decline, and the development of new brain-machine interfaces.

How Do Researchers Study the Brain During Movement?

Brain with interconnected neural pathways and animals running across

Recording brain activity in freely moving animals requires specialized techniques that can capture neural signals while the animal is in motion. These techniques fall into two main categories: electrophysiology and brain imaging.

Electrophysiology involves directly measuring the electrical activity of neurons using electrodes. Researchers have developed various adaptations to make this technique compatible with movement, including:

Tethered Systems: These systems use long wires to connect the electrodes to an amplifier and recording device. The wires are carefully mounted to allow the animal to move freely without getting tangled.
Telemetric Recording Systems: These systems use a battery-operated transmitter attached to the animal's body to transmit neural signals wirelessly. This eliminates the need for wires and allows the animal to move completely unencumbered.
Electrocorticography (ECOG): ECOG involves placing electrodes on the surface of the brain to record electrical activity. Wireless ECOG systems have been developed for various species, including rats and primates.
Electroencephalography (EEG): EEG involves placing electrodes on the scalp to record electrical activity. Wireless EEG systems have also been developed for animals, allowing researchers to study brain activity during movement.

Brain imaging techniques, such as two-photon calcium imaging and positron emission tomography (PET), provide indirect measures of neuronal activity by imaging metabolic activity. These techniques have also been adapted for use in moving animals, allowing researchers to study brain activity in real-time as animals engage in natural behaviors.

The Future of Movement Research

As technology advances, the study of movement promises to revolutionize our understanding of the brain and pave the way for new treatments for neurological disorders. By combining innovative techniques with carefully designed experiments, researchers can unlock the secrets of movement and translate these insights into tangible benefits for humans. Future developments include mobile EEG, ECoG, and PET devices for humans that will allow for single cell activities measure

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Everything You Need To Know

Why is studying animal movement crucial for understanding the brain?

Studying animal movement is critical because it provides a window into the brain's inner workings. Animals, like humans, use movement for complex actions and cognitive processes. By observing how the brain orchestrates these actions in animals, researchers gain insights into human cognition, movement disorders, and the development of new brain-machine interfaces. Animals often rely on movement to express needs and intentions, making it essential for understanding their cognitive abilities. This approach offers insights that are difficult to obtain through traditional methods.

What are the primary methods used to study brain activity in freely moving animals?

The primary methods are electrophysiology and brain imaging. Electrophysiology involves directly measuring the electrical activity of neurons using electrodes. Techniques include tethered systems, telemetric recording systems, electrocorticography (ECOG), and electroencephalography (EEG). Brain imaging techniques such as two-photon calcium imaging and positron emission tomography (PET) provide indirect measures of neuronal activity. These methods allow researchers to study brain activity in real-time as animals engage in natural behaviors, offering invaluable insights into human cognition.

Can you explain the difference between Tethered Systems and Telemetric Recording Systems used in electrophysiology?

Tethered systems use long wires to connect electrodes to an amplifier and recording device, allowing the animal to move without getting tangled. Telemetric recording systems, on the other hand, use a battery-operated transmitter attached to the animal's body to transmit neural signals wirelessly. This eliminates the need for wires, offering the animal complete freedom of movement. Both methods are crucial in electrophysiology, but Telemetric systems offer greater freedom for the animals during the experiments.

How can research on animal movement help in treating human neurological disorders?

By studying how the brain controls movement in animals, researchers can gain insights into movement disorders and cognitive decline in humans. The research can lead to the development of new treatments and technologies, including new brain-machine interfaces. Understanding the neural mechanisms behind movement can lead to more effective therapies for conditions such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, and other neurological disorders. The insights gained from animal research can be translated into tangible benefits for humans, improving the understanding of these conditions.

What is the potential future of movement research, and what are the key technologies involved?

The future of movement research involves revolutionary advancements in understanding the brain, paving the way for new treatments for neurological disorders. Key technologies include mobile EEG, ECoG, and PET devices. Future developments may include single-cell activity measurements in humans. The combination of innovative techniques and carefully designed experiments will unlock the secrets of movement, leading to significant improvements in healthcare and understanding of human cognition. This will allow for a better comprehension of movement disorders, cognitive decline, and development of new brain-machine interfaces.