NEURONAL CONVERGENCE OF NOXIOUS, ACOUSTIC, AND VISUAL STIMULI IN THE VISUAL CORTEX OF THE CAT

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Abstract
Neuronal responses in the visual cortex to somesthetic, acoustic and visual stimuli were studied in cats with atropinized pupils under gallamine (Flaxedil), with and without pentobarbital. 46.7% of the 165 neurons recorded responded to cutaneous pinpricks after a mean latency of 70.1 msec and with little habituation in the unanesthetized preparation. Most neurons did not respond it tactile stimuli or to joint movements. The neuronal responses to pain were elicited from all 4 paws with comparable patterns and latencies. The responses to pinprick to the hind paws remained essentially unchanged after section of both dorsal columns and of the ipsilateral anterolateral tract of the upper spinal cord. 37.7% of the recorded neurons responded to acoustic stimuli with a response pattern similar to the pain responses and with a similar average latency of 63.5 msec. Pinprick and sound produced more variable responses with longer and less constant latencies than the light stimuli. Neuronal responses to pain and sound were less resistant to barbiturate narcosis than the visual responses. Convergence of visual, acoustic and somesthetic stimuli to a single neuron was observed. Almost all neurons sensitive to sound responded also, with high statistic significance, to pinprick.

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