Multisensory convergence and interaction in the pulvinar-lateralis posterior complex of the cat's thalamus

Neurosci Lett. 1980 Aug;19(1):27-32. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(80)90250-5.

Abstract

Responsiveness to visual, acoustic and somesthesic stimuli was studied in 260 units recorded within the associative thalamic nuclei of the cat (pulvinar-lateralis posterior complex and posterior group). Of the 123 units responding to one or more stimuli 41 (corresponding to 15% of the total) showed multisensory convergence. Bimodal, visual-somesthesic convergence was the most common finding, occurring in 33 units. Visual-somesthesic inhibitory interaction was observed only in the pulvinar nucleus, suggesting a peculiar synaptic organization of multisensory input to this nucleus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Auditory Perception / physiology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cats
  • Decerebrate State / physiopathology
  • Electroshock
  • Sensation / physiology*
  • Thalamic Nuclei / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / physiology