Effects of cortical ablations on the turning response evoked by stimulation of the pulvinar-lateralis posterior nucleus complex in the cat.
The role played by the cerebral cortex on turning responses elicited by electrical stimulation of P-LP was studied in 9 chronic cats. In three animals the sensorimotor cortex was bilaterally ablated and the threshold values for inducing a turning response were determined. None of the cats showed abnormal threshold values. In six cats the cerebral cortical area known to have reciprocal anatomical connections with P-LP was unilaterally removed. Seven days after surgery, 50% of the electrodes gave no responses; 25% evoked responses with high thresholds and 25% with normal thresholds. One month after surgery the percentages were: 14, 18 and 68 respectively. Histological findings show important fiber and neuronal degeneration in P-LP. It is postulated that this area of the cerebral cortex plays, a facilitatory role on the P-LP ability to induce turning response and that the recovery of this ability can be explained by the development of P-LP denervation supersensitivity.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002541:Cerebral Decortication; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*