Projection of phrenic nerve afferents to the cat sensorimotor cortex.

The projection of phrenic nerve afferents to the sensorimotor cortex was studied in cats. The results of these experiments demonstrate that stimulation of phrenic nerve afferents elicits cortical evoked potentials (CEPs) in the sensorimotor cortex of cats. Cortical foci for CEPs classified as primary were found in areas 3b, 3a and 4 gamma. These foci were located medial to forelimb and lateral to hindlimb afferent representations in the sensorimotor cortex.