Summary
Electrical stimulation with repetitive pulses (6/sec) was applied to the internal medullary lamina and produced tonic contraversive turning movements of eyes and head which were associated with recruiting responses in the visual cortex.
Optical gratings of a spatial frequency of 0.5 c/deg which alternated with diffuse illumination of equal intensity were then presented to the animal during conjugated adversive eye movements induced by intralaminar stimulation with continuous sine-wave alternating currents of 5000 c.p.s. The head of the animal was fixed except for rotation in the horizontal plane. Prior to intralaminar stimulation it was turned in the direction opposite to the induced eye movements so that the animal always viewed the central area of the screen.
The potential recorded in the visual cortex in response to the gratings consisted of an initial positive-negative potential of the order of 20 μV followed by later deflections of irregular shape. The size of this initial potential was measured during induced gazing and in the absence of intralaminar stimulation. A significantly greater potential in response to the gratings was found during gazing. Diminishing the visual acuity of the animal resulted in a marked decrease of the initial potential and in this condition very little increase was obtained during gazing. No enhancement of the potential was seen when stimulation was applied to other thalamic structures that yielded no visual orientation.
It is concluded that perception of contrast is improved during visual orientation and that the effect is due to a concomitant activation of unspecific intralaminar afferents to the visual cortex.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bishop, P.W., Kozak, W., Vakkur, G.J.: Some quantitative aspects of the cat's eye: Axis and plane of reference, visual field coordinates and optics. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 163, 466–502 (1962)
Campbell, F.W., Cooper, G.F., Enroth-Cugell, Ch.: The spatial selectivity of the visual cells of the cat. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 203, 223–235 (1969)
Campbell, F.W., Green, D.G.: Optical and retinal factors affecting visual resolution. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 181, 576–593 (1965)
Campbell, F.W., Maffei, L.: Electrophysiological evidence for the existence of orientation and size detectors in human visual system. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 207, 635–652 (1970)
Campbell, F.W., Maffei, L., Piccolini, M.: The contrast sensitivity of the cat. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 229, 719–731 (1973)
Creutzfeldt, O., Akimoto, H.: Konvergenz und gegenseitige Beeinflussung von Impulsen aus der Retina und den unspezifischen Thalamuskernen an einzelnen Neuronen des optischen Cortex. Arch. Psychiat. Nervenkr. 196, 520–538 (1958)
Gildemeister, M.: Untersuchungen über die Wirkung der Mittelfrequenzströme auf den Menschen. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol. 247, 366–404 (1944)
Grüsser, O-J., Grüsser-Cornehls, U.: Reaktionsmuster einzelner Neurone im Geniculatum laterale und visuellen Cortex der Katze bei Reizung mit optokinetischen Streifenmustern. In: Neurophysiologie und Psychophysik des visuellen Systems. (eds. R. Jung and H. Kornhuber). pp. 313–326. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1961
Hanbery, J., Jasper, H.: Independence of diffuse thalamo-cortical projection system shown by specific nuclear destruction. J. Neurophysiol. 16, 252–271 (1953)
Hanbery, J., Ajmone-Marsan, C., Dillworth, M.: Pathways of nonspecific thalamo-cortical projection system. E.E.G. clin. Neurophysiol. 6, 103–118 (1954)
Hassler, R.: Extrapyramidal motor areas of cat's frontal lobe: their functional and architectonical differentiation. Int. J. Neurol. 5, 301–316 (1966)
Hess, W.R.: Induzierte Störungen der optischen Wahrnehmung. Nervenarzt 16, 57–66 (1943)
Hess, W.R.: Korrespondierende Symptome aus Stirnhirn, innerer Kapsel und vorderem Thalamus. Helv. Physiol. Acta 6, 731–738 (1948)
Hess, W.R., Bürgi, S., Bucher, V.: Motorische Funktion des Tektal- und Tegmentalgebietes. Mschr. Psychiat. Neurol. 112, 1–52 (1946)
Hunsperger, R.W.: Die asynchrone und lokal umschriebene Reizwirkung von Mittelfrequenz Dauerströmen im Hypothalamus der Katze. Ein Beitrag zur Methodik der Hirnreizung. Exp. Brain Res. 9, 164–182 (1969)
Ikeda, H., Wright, M.J.: Spatial and temporal properties of “sustained” and “transient” neurons in area 17 of the cat's visual cortex. Exp. Brain Res. 22, 363–383 (1975)
Jansen, J., Andersen, P., Kaada, B.R.: Subcortical mechanisms in the “searching” or “attention” response elicited by prefrontal cortical stimulation in unanaesthetized cats. Yale J. Biol. Med. 28, 331–341 (1955/56)
Jasper, H.: Diffuse projecting systems: The integrative action of the thalamic reticular system. E.E.G. clin. Neurophysiol. 1, 405–420 (1949)
Jasper, H., Ajmone-Marsan, C.: Thalamocortical integrating mechanisms. Res. Publ. Ass. nerv. ment. Dis. 30, 493–512 (1952)
Jasper, H., Naquet R., King, E.E.: Thalamocortical recruiting responses in sensory receiving areas in the cat. E.E.G. clin. Neurophysiol. 7, 99–114 (1955)
Jones, E.G., Laevitt, R.Y.: Retrograde axonal transport and the demonstration of non-specific projections to the cerebral cortex and striatum from thalamic intralaminar nuclei in the rat, cat and monkey. J. comp. Neurol. 154, 348–377 (1974)
Jones, E.G., Powell, T.P.S.: An analysis of the posterior group of thalamic nuclei on the basis of its afferent connections. J. comp. Neurol. 143, 185–215 (1971)
Kumazawa, T.: Excitation of muscle fibre membrane by means of transversely applied middle frequency current pulses. Helv. physiol. pharmacol. Acta 26, 257–269 (1968)
Kumazawa, T., Wyss, O.A.M.: Mittelfrequenz-Querreizung des Muskels mit intrazellulärer Ableitung am Reizort. Helv. physiol. pharmacol. Acta 24, C33-C36 (1966)
Maffei, L., Fiorentini, A.: The visual cortex as a spatial frequency analyzer. Vision Res. 13, 1255–1267 (1973)
Murray, M.: Degeneration of some intralaminar thalamic nuclei after cortical removals in the cat. J. comp. Neurol. 127, 341–367 (1966)
Nauta, W.J.H., Whitlock, D.G.: An anatomical analysis of the nonspecific thalamic projection system. In: Brain Mechanisms and Consciousness, (ed. J.F. Delafresnaye). pp. 81–116. Oxford: Blackwell 1954
Orem, J., Schlag, J.: Direct projections from cat frontal eyefield to the internal medullary lamina of the thalamus. Exp. Neurol. 33, 509–517 (1971)
Orem, J., Schlag-Rey, M., Schlag, J.: Unilateral visual neglect and thalamic intralaminar lesions in the cat. Exp. Neurol. 40, 784–797 (1973)
Scheibel, M.E., Scheibel, A.B.: Structural organization of nonspecific thalamic nuclei and their projection toward cortex. Brain Res. 6, 60–94 (1967)
Schlag, J., Schlag-Rey, M.: Induction of oculomotor responses by electrical stimulation of the prefrontal cortex in the cat. Brain Res. 22, 1–13 (1970)
Schlag, J., Schlag-Rey, M.: Induction of oculomotor responses from thalamic internal medullary lamina in the cat. Exp. Neurol. 33, 498–508 (1971)
Schlag, J., Lethinen, L, Schlag-Rey, M.: Neuronal activity before and during eye movements in thalamic medullary lamina of the cat. J. Neurophysiol. 37, 982–995 (1974)
Scollo-Lavizzari, G.: Anatomische und physiologische Beobachtungen über das frontale Augenfeld der Katze. Helv. physiol. pharmacol. Acta 22, C42-C43 (1964)
Wyss, O.A.M.: Die Reizwirkung mittelfrequenter Wechselströme. Helv. physiol. pharmacol. Acta 21, 173–188 (1963)
Wyss, O.A.M.: Beiträge zur elektrophysiologischen Methodik. VI. Ein Mittelfrequenz-Reizgerät. Helv. physiol. pharmacol. Acta 23, 31–37 (1965)
Zuber, B.L., Stark, L.: Saccadic suppression: Elevation of visual threshold associated with saccadic eye movements. Exp. Neurol. 16, 65–79 (1966)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hunsperger, R.W., Roman, D. The integrative role of the intralaminar system of the thalamus in visual orientation and perception in the cat. Exp Brain Res 25, 231–246 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234015
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234015