Unit activity of the human thalamus during voluntary movements.
The quantitative functional analysis of firing patterns has made it possible to classify human VL neurons into two basic types: (1), units with irregular unitary 3-to 20-imp/s activity (A type) and (2) units with short (10-30 ms) rhythmic (3-6 Hz) burst discharges (B type). These two basic types of VL neurons, determined by differences of their discharge patterns and functional properties, are theorized to play a significant role in motor and rhythmic thalamic mechanisms related to parkinsonian tremor. Despite the absence of any direct relationship between rhythmic (3-6 Hz) bursting VL and Rt neurons of the B type and parkinsonian tremor, some indirect relations between them were found.
Raeva
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Institute of Chemical Physics, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow.
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014202:Tremor / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery