Myoclonic triangle
motor feedback circuit of the brainstem
The myoclonic triangle (also known by its eponym Triangle of Guillain-Mollaret or dentato-rubro-olivary pathway) is an important feedback circuit of the brainstem and deep cerebellar nuclei which is responsible for modulating spinal cord motor activity.
The circuit is thus composed:
Fibers of the rubro-olivary tract project from the parvocellular red nucleus via the central tegmental tract to the ipsilateral inferior olivary nucleus.
The inferior olivary nucleus sends its afferents via climbing fibers in the inferior cerebellar peduncle to Purkinje cells of the contralateral cerebellar cortex.
The Purkinje cells send their afferents to the ipsilateral dentate nucleus.
Dentatorubral tract fibers: the dentate nucleus afferents travel via the superior cerebellar peduncle to the contralateral red nucleus, thus completing the circuit.
Of note, this circuit contains a double decussation, implying that a lesion in this tract will cause ipsilateral symptoms.
The descending rubrospinal tract and reticulospinal tract originate in the red nucleus and reticular formation (which is closely associated with the central tegmental tract) respectively, thereby providing the mechanism by which this circuit exerts its effects on spinal cord motor activity.
Pathologies
Hypertrophic olivary degeneration
HOD is caused by lesions in the dentatorubral or central tegmental tracts. Lesions of the superior cerebellar peduncle can also result in contralateral HOD, whereas primary lesions of the central tegmental tract cause ipsilateral HOD. Lesions involving this circuit may produce palatal myoclonus, one of the few involuntary movements that do not disappear during sleep. Palatal myoclonus may be seen as a component of the lateral medullary syndrome (a.k.a.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Myoclonic triangle” is motor feedback circuit of the brainstem. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Myoclonic, triangle and motor, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “motor feedback circuit of the brainstem” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Apr 22, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1553841. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Myoclonic triangle”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Myoclonic triangle primary sources, Myoclonic triangle archive and Myoclonic research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Myoclonic triangle”?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Myoclonic triangle” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.