Abstract

In view of the discrepancies in reports about the cerebral responses induced by stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus in the cat, attempts were made to re-evaluate the effects of stimulation of the fastigial nucleus in the cerebral cortex and thalamus of cats anesthetized with pentobarbital. Stimulation of the fastigial nucleus elicited responses of low amplitude bilaterally in the medial portion of the precruciate cortex in 7 out of 25 animals studied. The responses were mainly composed of a positive wave which reversed its polarity at a depth between 250 and 500 microns from the cortical surface. Presumable relay cells for the responses were detected in the ventromedial nucleus and the medial area of the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus. Thalamic neurones showed a tendency to repetitive spike generation with variable latencies after fastigial stimulation, while conditioning stimuli applied to the midbrain reticular formation apparently counteracted it, enhancing the probability of generation of a single spike at a shorter latency. The effect of pentobarbital anesthesia on the fastigio-thalamic transmission is discussed in relation to the inconstant appearance of cortical responses after fastigial stimulation.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.