Biomaterial Database

Somatosensory neurons in human thalamus respond to speech-induced orofacial movements. 1990

M D McClean, and J O Dostrovsky, and L Lee, and R R Tasker

Division of Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ont., Canada.

As part of stereotactic surgery, microelectrode recordings of somatosensory neurons in thalamus were obtained in 5 patients. Neurons with receptive fields on the lips and tongue were consistently activated when these structures were involved in production of speech sounds. The magnitudes of these responses were similar to those elicited by experimentally applied mechanical stimuli, suggesting that speech-induced somatosensory inputs are not suppressed at the thalamic level.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009475	Neurons, Afferent	Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
D005152	Facial Muscles	Muscles of facial expression or mimetic muscles that include the numerous muscles supplied by the facial nerve that are attached to and move the skin of the face. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Mimetic Muscles,Facial Muscle,Mimetic Muscle,Muscle, Facial,Muscle, Mimetic,Muscles, Facial,Muscles, Mimetic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000200	Action Potentials	Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli.	Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000344	Afferent Pathways	Nerve structures through which impulses are conducted from a peripheral part toward a nerve center.	Afferent Pathway,Pathway, Afferent,Pathways, Afferent
D012867	Skin	The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.
D013060	Speech	Communication through a system of conventional vocal symbols.	Public Speaking,Speaking, Public
D013788	Thalamus	Paired bodies containing mostly GRAY MATTER and forming part of the lateral wall of the THIRD VENTRICLE of the brain.	Thalamencephalon,Thalamencephalons