Selective regulation of thalamic sensory relay nuclei by nucleus reticularis thalami

doi:10.1016/0013-4694(76)90059-6

Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology

Volume 41, Issue 5, November 1976, Pages 476-482

https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-4694(76)90059-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

Stimulation in the segment of nucleus reticularis thalami adjacent to the lateral geniculate body (R_LG), abolished visual evoked potentials for up to 150 msec. Both photic stimulation in the contralateral visual field and electric stimulation in the ipsilateral optic tract elicited primary cortical responses that were markedly reduced or abolished by prior conditioning stimulation in R_LG. Stimulation of the segments of nucleus reticularis thalami adjacent to the medial geniculate (R_MG) or the ventrobasal complex (R_VBC) had the effect of markedly reducing or abolishing unilaterally projected primary evoked responses in the auditory and cutaneous systems, respectively. Only the sensory evoked potentials mediated by the relay nucleus adjacent to the region of R stimulated were affected. The reduction of the cortical evoked potentials was not due to the processes underlying the cortical recovery cycle, because conditioning stimulation on either side of R_LG stimulated the primary geniculocortical fibers, but had a minimal or no effect on the visual test evoked response. These results suggest that R functions as a topographically organized inhibitory gate which can regulate the patterns of sensory input from the thalamus to the cortex. The regulatory effects on R by the mesencephalic reticular formation and the mediothalamic-frontocortical system may mediate both generalized and selective control of cortical sensory evoked potentials.

Résumé

La stimulation du segment du noyau réticulaire du thalamus adjacent au corps géniculé latéral (R_LG) abolit les potentiels évoqués visuels pendant une période pouvant atteindre 150 msec. La stimulation photique du champ visuel controlatéral et la stimulation électrique du tractus optique ipsilatéral font apparaître des réponses corticales primaires qui sont nettement réduites ou abolies par conditionnement préalable par stimulation du R_LG. La stimulation des segments du noyau réticulaire thalamique adjacents au géniculé médian (R_MG) ou au complexe ventrobasal (R_VBC) a pour effet de réduire de façon marquée ou d'abolir les réponses évoquées primaires projetées unilatéralement dans le système auditif et cutané, respectivement. Seuls les potentiels évoqués sensoriels médiatisés par les noyaux de relai adjacents à la région du R stimulée sont affectés. La réduction des potentiels évoqués corticaux n'est pas dûe au processus qui soutend le cycle cortical de récupération, car la stimulation de conditionnement de chaque côté du R_LG stimule les fibres géniculo-corticales primaires, mais a un effet minime ou nul sur les réponses évoquées au test visuel. Ces résultats suggèrent que le R fonctionne comme une fenêtre inhibitrice topographiquement organisée, qui peut régular les patterns d'afférences sensorielles allant du thalamus au cortex. Les effets régulateurs de R par la formation réticulaire mésencephalique et le système mediothalamique-frontocortical peuvent médiatiser à la fois le contrôle généralisé et sélectif des potentiels évoqués corticaux sensoriels.

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^☆: This work was supported by Grants HL 05435 and HL 13837 from the National Heart and Lung Institute, NIH, U.S. Public Health Service.

^∗∗: C.D. Yingling was the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the National Science Foundation. Present address: Langley Porter Neuropsychiatric Institute, University of California, San Francisco, Calif. 94143, U.S.A.

^†: The authors wish to thank Gregory L. King for his invaluable assistance.

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Selective regulation of thalamic sensory relay nuclei by nucleus reticularis thalamiRégulation sélective des noyaux de relai sensitif thalamiques par le noyau réticulaire du thalamus☆

Abstract

Résumé

Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol.

Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol.

Amer. J. Ophthal.

Acta psychol. (Amst.)

Brain Res.

Brain Res.

Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol.

Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol.

Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol.

Influence of mesencephalic stimulation on unit activity in the striate cortex of squirrel monkeys

J. Neurophysiol.