Electrophysiological studies on the cerebellocerebral projections in monkeys.

Abstract

1. Responses evoked by stimulation of the cerebellar and thalamic nuclei were recorded by microelectrodes introduced at various depths in the cerebral cortex of monkeys (Macaca mulatta) under light Nembutal anaesthesia. 2. Stimulation of the medial (fastigial) cerebellar nucleus produced, at a latency of 4-5 msec, deep thalamo-cortical (T-C) responses (surface positive-deep negative potentials) mainly in the medial part of the precentral gyrus (area 4, "motor area for hindlimb") and in the superior parietal gyrus (area 5) on both contralateral and ipsilateral sides to the nucleus stimulated. 3. Stimulation of the lateral (dentate) cerebellar nucleus elicited, at a latency of about 3 msec, superficial T-C responses (surface negative-deep positive potentials) predominately in the lateral part of the precentral gyrus (area 4, "motor area for forelimb and face") and in the rostromedial part of the gyrus (area 6, premotor area) on the contralateral side. 4. Stimulation of the interpositus cerebellar nucleus set up superficial T-C responses chiefly in the motor area between those influenced by the medial and the lateral cerebellar nucleus stimulation and also in the premotor area on the contralateral side. 5. The respective areas responsive to the medial, interpositus and lateral nucleus stimulation overlapped considerably each other in the motor cortex. 6. Comparison of the responses in the cortex induced by stimulation of the cerebellar and thalamic nuclei indicated different relay portions in and around the VA-VL region of the thalamus for the superficial and the deep T-C responses respectively. 7. Functional implications of the results were discussed in referring to the cerebellocerebral projections in cats.