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The projection from the visual cortex to the lateral geniculate body (LGB) an experimental study with silver impregnation methods in the Cat

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Summary

Small lesions were made in the visual cortex of 15 adult cats both uni-and bilaterally. Using thermocoagulation it was possible to make lesions restricted to particular cortical cytoarchitectonic areas. The degeneration in the lateral geniculate body (LGB) was studied with silver impregnation methods of Nauta and Laidlaw and Pink and Heimer. The distribution of terminal degeneration was mapped by means of a new 3-dimensional reconstruction technique. The man results are as follows:

  1. 1.

    Most of the fibres projecting from the visual cortex to the LGB come from area 18. They terminate in laminae A and A1 and in the central interlaminar nucleus. Rostral portions of area 18 project to rostral parts of the LGB and caudal portions to caudal parts. The medial portion of area 18 projects more medially in the LGB and the lateral portion projects more laterally.

  2. 2.

    Area 17 does not project to any part of the LGB. A projection from the most caudal part of area 17 to the tail of the LGB cannot, however, be entirely excluded.

  3. 3.

    Area 19 and possibly also the suprasylvian gyrus project to the medial interlaminar nucleus and to the ventral nucleus. One of these cortical areas or both send fibres to laminae A and A1, and to the central interlaminar nucleus.

  4. 4.

    The nucleus lateralis posterior of the thalamus receives fibres from area 17, area 18, and possibly also from area 19 and the suprasylvian gyrus.

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Holländer, H. The projection from the visual cortex to the lateral geniculate body (LGB) an experimental study with silver impregnation methods in the Cat. Exp Brain Res 10, 219–235 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235047

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