CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE OF SOMATOSENSORY PATHWAYS

由这笔资金资助的研究的长期目标是提供 在功能上相关的，解剖描述的模式 中枢神经系统通路的发散和汇聚 在躯体的感觉中。由于相互关系的复杂性， 在这些路径中的元素之间，这些描述是必要的 在了解不同方面的神经机制之前 可以实现身体感觉的变化，如触摸、疼痛和运动感觉。 下一个赠款期间的拟议工作集中在两个方面 区域-延髓柱核(DCN)和未确定带(Zi)。这个 到目前为止在DCN上获得的结果初步表明DCN是 至少参与了两个独立的系统。一个是之前的 众所周知的背柱-DCN-腹基复合体(VB)-躯体感觉 大脑皮层传递途径及其相关的“丘脑”特征。这个 其他以前无法识别的系统由一组单独的DCN组成 神经元(特性未知)及其相互联系 除VB外，还有其他靶点的神经元。下一批资助期的研究 将继续进行多个标记策略的实验 用于获得对空间的尽可能完整的描述， DCN多发性病变的形态及侧支特征 传出系统。如果时间允许，额外的电生理研究 将开始研究一些人的躯体反应特性 DCN内差异投射神经元。DCN的主要业务之一 除VB外，间脑靶点是未确定区。《子》之外 接受来自网状结构和小脑的密集输入。虽然 这些结果和其他结果表明，子脑是一个间脑区域， 与VB和椎板内复合体一样，在躯体中具有一定的功能 轰动一时的子文，在这方面一直比较被忽视。因此， 在下一个资助期提出的其他研究将使用多重标记 检查连接性神经的策略和电生理技术 子的解剖及其躯体反应特性 神经元。这些研究的目的是提供解剖学和生理学 这些数据不仅将增加我们对DCN和ZI的了解 具体的躯体感觉功能，以及它们的功能如何与 在躯体路径的其他部分。

The long-range goal of the studies funded by this grant is to provide functionally-relevant, anatomical descriptions of the patterns of divergence and convergence of the central nervous system pathways involved in somatic sensation. Because of the complexity of the interrelationships between the elements in these pathways, these descriptions are necessary before an understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying various aspects of somatic sensation, such as touch, pain and kinesthesia can be achieved. The work proposed for the next grant period is focused upon two regions---the odrsal column nuclei (DCN) and the zona incerta (ZI). The results obtained so far on DCN tentatively indicate that the DCN are involved in at least two independent systems. One is the previously well-known dorsal column-DCN-ventrobasal complex (VB)-somatic sensory cortex relay pathway with its associated "lemniscal" characteristics. The other, previously unrecognized system consists of a separate set of DCN neurons (of unknown characteristics) and the interconnections of these neurons with other targets besides VB. Studies in the next grant period will continue ongong experiments in which multiple labeling strategies are being used to obtain as complete a description as possible of the spatial, morphological and collateralization characteristics of DCN's multiple efferent systems. If time permits, additional electrophysiological studies will be initiated to investigate the somatic response properties of some of the differentially-projecting neurons in DCN. One of DCN's major diencephalic targets besides VB is the zona incerta. The ZI in addition receives dense input from the reticular formation and cerebellum. Although these and other results indicate that ZI is a diencephalic region that, like VB and the intralaminar complex, has some function in somatic sensation, ZI has been relatively ignored in this regard. Accordingly, other studies proposed for the next grant period will use multiple labeling strategies and electrophysiological techniques to examine the connective anatomy of ZI together with the somatic response properties of its neurons. The aim of the studies is to provide anatomical and physiological data that will increase our understanding not only of DCN's and ZI's specific somatic sensory functions, but also how their functions relate to those of other parts of the somatic pathways.