Progressive changes in somatosensory cortical maps in 6-week-old kittens cord-transected at T12.
Maps of primary somatosensory cortex were obtained using multiunit recordings immediately, and 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks following cord-transection (T12) performed on 6-week-old kittens. Results suggest that cortex responds to the injury in two stages: (1) after 3 weeks, all deprived cortex can be excited by the remaining afferent input with little somatotopic organization: and (2) by 12 weeks, the area of drivable cortex has decreased, but somatotopic organization is present within this region.
McKinley
P A
PA
Department of Kinesiology, University of California, Los Angeles.
Swyter
E
E
D000344:Afferent Pathways; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002415:Cats; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*