Somatosensory input and thalamic projection of pedunculopontine tegmental neurons.
The cholinergic pedunculopontine tegmental area of the anesthetized rat was explored for single units responsive to somatosensory stimulation. Units projecting to the intralaminar thalamus were identified by antidromic stimulation. Approximately one half of the somatosensory units consisted of low threshold units responsive to light tapping and stroking; the others were high threshold mechanoreceptive units. Most receptive fields were trigeminal and contralateral. These results suggest that somatosensory information is an important element in a subcortical system linking this area with the basal ganglia, superior colliculus and thalamus.
Grunwerg
B S
BS
Department of Neuroscience, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway 08854.
Krein
H
H
Krauthamer
G M
GM
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011149:Pons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013788:Thalamus / Q000502:physiology*