Experimental Brain Research

, Volume 1, Issue 4, pp 306–319 | Cite as

Functional organization of the spinoreticulocerebellar path with identification of its spinal component

  • G. Grant
  • O. Oscarsson
  • I. Rosén
Article
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Summary

Mass discharges were recorded from the dissected left restiform body in unanaesthetized, decerebrate, and decerebellate cats. The spinal cord was severed in the thoracic or cervical region sparing only the left ventral quadrant. In this preparation the discharges were shown to relate largely or exclusively to activity in the reticulocerebellar tract originating from the lateral reticular nucleus. The ascending spinal tract was identified with the bilateral ventral flexor reflex tract (bVFRT) of Lundberg and Oscarsson (1962). The reticulocerebellar tract was activated from the flexor reflex afferents and nerve volleys from each of the four limbs were equally effective. It is concluded that the lateral reticular nucleus is not responsible for the somatotopically organized projection of cutaneous afferents, as assumed before. The bVFRT is strongly influenced from the cerebellar cortex and the organization of the closed loop formed between the cortex and the spinal cord is discussed.

Key words

Lateral reticular nucleus Reticulocerebellar tract Spinoreticular tract Cerebellum Flexor reflex afferents 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1966

Authors and Affiliations

  • G. Grant
    • 1
    • 2
  • O. Oscarsson
    • 1
  • I. Rosén
    • 1
  1. 1.Institute of PhysiologyUniversity of LundLundSweden
  2. 2.Department of Human AnatomyUniversity of UppsalaUppsalaSweden

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