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Coding of vibration by neurones of the dorsal column nuclei in the pigeon

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Abstract

Whereas the function of mechanoreceptors is well known in birds there are no detailed investigations of central processing. Therefore the characteristics of neurones in a first relay, the dorsal column nuclei (nuclei gracilis et cuneatus and the nucleus cuneatus externus), were studied electrophysiologically by recording responses from individual neurones to mechanical stimulation of skin and deep tissue.

Of 140 units 84 were cutaneous neurones. The remainder were tap- and deep-neurones. Tap-neurones were activated by sharp brief taps. Activity in deep-neurones was comparable to joint and tendon receptors but not to muscle spindles. Thirty-four cutaneous neurones were vibration sensitive neurones, 36 were slowly adapting neurones and 14 neurones were rapidly adapting and fast habituating cells. Vibration sensitive neurones were most sensitive to 200 to 500 Hz. Frequencies above 100 Hz elicited phase coupled responses.

Within the nn. gracilis et cuneatus 61 were cutaneous neurones, 13 were deep-neurones and 7 were tap-cells. Within n. cuneatus externus 17 were cutaneous units, 21 were deep-neurones and 11 were tap-neurones. No vibration sensitive neurones were found within n. cuneatus externus. This means that coding for vibration is represented in the nn. gracilis et cuneatus.

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Abbreviations

CE n. :

cuneatus externus

DCN :

dorsal column nuclei

GC n. :

gracilis et cuneatus

HC :

Herbst corpuscle

PH :

phasic and habituating

Imps./s :

Impulses per second

INTH :

interval histogram

PSTH :

peristimulus time histogram

PHASE :

Phase histogram

RF :

receptive field

SA :

slowly adapting

Vec. :

vector strength

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Author notes

  1. H. Reinke

    Present address: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, 1, Auckland, New Zeland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Tierphysiologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780, Bochum, Germany

    H. Reinke & R. Necker

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Reinke, H., Necker, R. Coding of vibration by neurones of the dorsal column nuclei in the pigeon. J Comp Physiol A 179, 263–276 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222793

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