Organization of somatosensory cortex and distribution of corticospinal neurons in the eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus). 1997

K C Catania, and J H Kaas
Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, USA. Catania@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu

The somatotopic organization of somatosensory cortex of the eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) was explored with multiunit microelectrode recordings from middle layers of cortex. The recordings revealed the presence of at least parts of two systematic representations of the body surface in the lateral cortex. One of the representations appears to be primary somatosensory cortex (S1), and it contained cytochrome oxidase dark regions, separated by light septa that formed isomorphs with some body parts. The rostral portion of this presumptive S1 cortex contained a face representation with a series of barrel-like cytochrome oxidase dark ovals that corresponded to the vibrissae on the snout. In caudolateral S1, light septa outline the palm and digits of the forepaw. Cortex caudal to S1, in the expected region of auditory cortex, responded to vibration, suggesting a modification of auditory cortex. Injections of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase into the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord revealed two dense foci of cortical cells that project to the spinal cord. The focus medial to the face region in S1 may correspond to primary motor cortex (M1). The second focus was coextensive with the somatosensory representation of the forelimb and the trunk in S1. The dense corticospinal projections from the forelimb representation of S1 and motor cortex may reflect sensorimotor specializations related to digging behaviors in moles.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008839 Microelectrodes Electrodes with an extremely small tip, used in a voltage clamp or other apparatus to stimulate or record bioelectric potentials of single cells intracellularly or extracellularly. (Dorland, 28th ed) Electrodes, Miniaturized,Electrode, Miniaturized,Microelectrode,Miniaturized Electrode,Miniaturized Electrodes
D008971 Moles Any of numerous burrowing mammals found in temperate regions and having minute eyes often covered with skin. Mole
D009044 Motor Cortex Area of the FRONTAL LOBE concerned with primary motor control located in the dorsal PRECENTRAL GYRUS immediately anterior to the central sulcus. It is comprised of three areas: the primary motor cortex located on the anterior paracentral lobule on the medial surface of the brain; the premotor cortex located anterior to the primary motor cortex; and the supplementary motor area located on the midline surface of the hemisphere anterior to the primary motor cortex. Brodmann Area 4,Brodmann Area 6,Brodmann's Area 4,Brodmann's Area 6,Premotor Cortex and Supplementary Motor Cortex,Premotor and Supplementary Motor Cortices,Anterior Central Gyrus,Gyrus Precentralis,Motor Area,Motor Strip,Precentral Gyrus,Precentral Motor Area,Precentral Motor Cortex,Premotor Area,Premotor Cortex,Primary Motor Area,Primary Motor Cortex,Secondary Motor Areas,Secondary Motor Cortex,Somatic Motor Areas,Somatomotor Areas,Supplementary Motor Area,Area 4, Brodmann,Area 4, Brodmann's,Area 6, Brodmann,Area 6, Brodmann's,Area, Motor,Area, Precentral Motor,Area, Premotor,Area, Primary Motor,Area, Secondary Motor,Area, Somatic Motor,Area, Somatomotor,Area, Supplementary Motor,Brodmann's Area 6s,Brodmanns Area 4,Brodmanns Area 6,Central Gyrus, Anterior,Cortex, Motor,Cortex, Precentral Motor,Cortex, Premotor,Cortex, Primary Motor,Cortex, Secondary Motor,Cortices, Secondary Motor,Gyrus, Anterior Central,Gyrus, Precentral,Motor Area, Precentral,Motor Area, Primary,Motor Area, Secondary,Motor Area, Somatic,Motor Areas,Motor Cortex, Precentral,Motor Cortex, Primary,Motor Cortex, Secondary,Motor Strips,Precentral Motor Areas,Precentral Motor Cortices,Premotor Areas,Primary Motor Areas,Primary Motor Cortices,Secondary Motor Area,Secondary Motor Cortices,Somatic Motor Area,Somatomotor Area,Supplementary Motor Areas
D009434 Neural Pathways Neural tracts connecting one part of the nervous system with another. Neural Interconnections,Interconnection, Neural,Interconnections, Neural,Neural Interconnection,Neural Pathway,Pathway, Neural,Pathways, Neural
D010775 Photic Stimulation Investigative technique commonly used during ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY in which a series of bright light flashes or visual patterns are used to elicit brain activity. Stimulation, Photic,Visual Stimulation,Photic Stimulations,Stimulation, Visual,Stimulations, Photic,Stimulations, Visual,Visual Stimulations
D010812 Physical Stimulation Act of eliciting a response from a person or organism through physical contact. Stimulation, Physical,Physical Stimulations,Stimulations, Physical
D004594 Electrophysiology The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D005552 Forelimb A front limb of a quadruped. (The Random House College Dictionary, 1980) Forelimbs
D006651 Histocytochemistry Study of intracellular distribution of chemicals, reaction sites, enzymes, etc., by means of staining reactions, radioactive isotope uptake, selective metal distribution in electron microscopy, or other methods. Cytochemistry
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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