An analysis of the representation of the forelimb in the ventrobasal thalamic complex of the albino rat.

1. Glass micro-electrodes have been used to record from a total of 998 units situated in the ventrobasal thalamic complex in the deeply anaesthetized albino rat. 2. Of these units 889 responded to electrical stimulation of the contralateral forelimb and fifty-one to the contralateral hind limb. The remaining units consisted of those with receptive fields on the trunk, head and those which responded to stimulation of more than one limb. Only the latter group of units showed any spontaneous activity in the absence of intentional stimulation. 2. Of the units which responded to electrical stimulation of the contralateral forelimb the receptive fields, modality and latencies of response were accurately determined for 505 units. The mean latency to supramaximal stimulation at the wrist was 4.49 (+/- 0.04 S.E. of mean) msec; and to mechanical stimulation (for 146 of these units) at the centre of the receptive field 6.58 (+/- 0.12) msec. The modalities were distributed as follows: light pressure, 391; heavy pressure, 47; hair movement, 40; claw sensitive, 15 and joint movement, 12 units. 4. The forelimb representation within the ventrobasal thalamic complex was somatotopically organized, the over-all appearance being that of an incompletely closed fist, palmar surface uppermost, thumb media, with the wrist caudal and the digital tips rostral and dorsal. 5. The central projection was distorted, some parts showing expanded representation, notably the tips of digits II and III and the medial wrist pad. Other parts were contracted, e.g. the wrist, forearm and shoulder. 6. Units with receptive fields consisting of the whole of a walking pad had shorter mean latencies, to tactile stimulation, than those whose field was a single spot on a pad. 7. Units were found to show an abolute unresponsive time to the second of a pair of identical supramaximal electrical stimuli of up to 50 msec, and a relative unresponsive time which could last up to 500 msec. The absolute unresponsive and relative unresponsive times to the second of a pair of tactile stimuli was shorter being 30 and 150 msec respectively. 8. The effect of decortication was to increase the excitability of thalamic units to peripheral stimulation both in the initial and later discharges.