title: The role of the claustrum in the bilateral control of frontal oculomotor neurons in the cat.
abstract: The effect of claustrum (CL) stimulation on the spontaneous unitary activity of ipsi and contralateral frontal oculomotor neurons, was studied in chloralose-anaesthetized cats. A total of 205 units was bilaterally recorded in the medial oculomotor area, homologous of the primate "frontal eye fields"; 127 neurons were identified as projecting to the superior colliculus; for 33 of these last units stimulation of the ipsilateral CL provoked an excitatory effect lasting 10-25 ms and appearing with a latency of 5-15 ms; on 8 units the excitatory effect was followed by an inhibition lasting 100-250 ms. Ninety-eight of the 127 neurons were also tested through activation of the contralateral CL: 13 cells showed an excitatory effect lasting 10-35 ms and appearing with a latency of 20-50 ms. In three of the thirteen units the excitatory effect was followed by an inhibition lasting 100-150 ms. Complete section of the corpus callosum abolished the contralateral CL effect, suggesting the existence of a direct claustro-contralateral oculomotor cortex pathway running through the corpus callosum. The results could support the hypothesis that the CL may play a role in the bilateral control of the visuomotor performance.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Physiology, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cortimiglia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crescimanno
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000502:physiology*; D002415:Cats; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009802:Oculomotor Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology