This proposal contains two parts, one experimental and one theoretical, in an integrated attack on the function of somatosensory cortex. The animal experimentation will utilize several methods, including extracellular multiunit recording methods for monitoring response of single neurons or small cortical populations to precisely controlled vibrotactile and moving tactile stimuli; the 14-C-2-DG metabolic mapping technique for demonstrating the spatially patterned global response of the somatosensory cortex to repetitive natural stimuli. Drugs having selective actions on various neocortical systems will be administered. The information obtained at all stages of the project will serve as the experimental basis for studies of a model of somatosensory cortical information representation and processing. These findings are expected to bear directly on a recently proposed view of cortical dynamic peri- and intra-columnar lateral inhibitory interactions which suggest highly specific roles for cortical neurotransmission. This combination of animal and computer modelling studies is intended to provide in-depth information about the dynamical cortical mechanisms involved in the representation of naturally occurring perceptually relevant stimuli.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH048654-03
Application #
2248280
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (SRCM)
Project Start
1991-09-01
Project End
1995-08-31
Budget Start
1993-09-30
Budget End
1995-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
078861598
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Tommerdahl, M; Whitsel, B L; Vierck Jr, C J et al. (1996) Effects of spinal dorsal column transection on the response of monkey anterior parietal cortex to repetitive skin stimulation. Cereb Cortex 6:131-55
Tommerdahl, M; Delemos, K A; Vierck Jr, C J et al. (1996) Anterior parietal cortical response to tactile and skin-heating stimuli applied to the same skin site. J Neurophysiol 75:2662-70
Hews, D K; Moore, M C (1995) Influence of androgens on differentiation of secondary sex characters in tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 97:86-102
Favorov, O V; Kelly, D G (1994) Minicolumnar organization within somatosensory cortical segregates: II. Emergent functional properties. Cereb Cortex 4:428-42
Favorov, O V; Kelly, D G (1994) Minicolumnar organization within somatosensory cortical segregates: I. Development of afferent connections. Cereb Cortex 4:408-27
Hollins, M; Favorov, O (1994) The tactile movement aftereffect. Somatosens Mot Res 11:153-62
Essick, G K; Whitsel, B L (1993) The response of SI directionally selective neurons to stimulus motion occurring at two sites within the receptive field. Somatosens Mot Res 10:97-113
Tommerdahl, M; Favorov, O; Whitsel, B L et al. (1993) Minicolumnar activation patterns in cat and monkey SI cortex. Cereb Cortex 3:399-411
Lee, C J; Whitsel, B L (1992) Mechanisms underlying somatosensory cortical dynamics: I. In vivo studies. Cereb Cortex 2:81-106
Lee, C J; Whitsel, B L; Tommerdahl, M (1992) Mechanisms underlying somatosensory cortical dynamics: II. In vitro studies. Cereb Cortex 2:107-33