The thalamic connections of motor, premotor, and prefrontal areas of cortex in a prosimian primate ( Otolemur garnetti)

Abstract

Connections of motor areas in the frontal cortex of prosimian galagos ( Otolemur garnetti) were determined by injecting tracers into sites identified by microstimulation in the primary motor area (M1), dorsal premotor area (PMD), ventral premotor area (PMV), supplementary motor area (SMA), frontal eye field (FEF), and granular frontal cortex. Retrogradely labeled neurons for each injection were related to architectonically defined thalamic nuclei. Nissl, acetylcholinesterase, cytochrome oxidase, myelin, parvalbumin, calbindin, and Cat 301 preparations allowed the ventral anterior and ventral lateral thalamic regions, parvocellular and magnocellular subdivisions of ventral anterior nucleus, and anterior and posterior subdivisions of ventral lateral nucleus of monkeys to be identified. The results indicate that each cortical area receives inputs from several thalamic nuclei, but the proportions differ. M1 receives major inputs from the posterior subdivision of ventral lateral nucleus while premotor areas receive major inputs from anterior parts of ventral lateral nucleus (the anterior subdivision of ventral lateral nucleus and the anterior portion of posterior subdivision of ventral lateral nucleus). PMD and SMA have connections with more dorsal parts of the ventral lateral nucleus than PMV. The results suggest that galagos share many subdivisions of the motor thalamus and thalamocortical connection patterns with simian primates, while having less clearly differentiated subdivisions of the motor thalamus.