Modulation of afferent transmission to single neurons in the ventroposterior thalamus during movement in rats.
Single units (n = 135) were recorded in the ventroposterolateral nucleus of the thalamus in awake rats. The responsiveness of neurons to sensory activation during rest and treadmill locomotion was tested by stimulation through electrodes implanted under the skin of the forepaw. The averaged evoked unit response was suppressed by a mean 31% during movement as compared with rest. This is to be compared with the mean 71% sensory suppression observed previously in the somatosensory cortex. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that sensory information ascending to, and within the SI cortex is successively modulated at several levels during movement.
Shin
H C
HC
Department of Anesthesia Research Laboratories, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.
Chapin
J K
JK
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005552:Forelimb / Q000294:innervation; D009068:Movement; D009433:Neural Inhibition; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*