The sensory contribution of a single vibrissa's cortical barrel

• DOI: 10.1152/jn.1986.56.4.1196
• Publication Date: 2017-12-24T22:45:29Z
• Authors: K. A. Hutson; R. B. Masterton
• Keywords: Barrel cortex; Stimulus (psychology)

The sensory contribution of the cortex containing cortical barrel C1 vibrissa was studied in rats using ablation-behavior method. Three independent experiments were performed, each requiring stimulus transduction by but varying their perceptual demands. first required detection sinusoidal oscillations generated an oscillating airstream directed vertically onto tip. second a change rate oscillation. third blinded rat to jump gap elevated runway after palpating far side with its vibrissa. Psychophysical determinations single system's thresholds before and ablation show that normal sensitivity either for detecting oscillation or frequency are not dependent on contralateral ipsilateral barrelfield. In contrast lack effect barrelfield spatial temporal acuity vibrissa, experiment shows rat's ability collect situation-relevant information is lost homologous barrel. results repeated retesting individual make jump-no decision basis vibrissa-transduced at stage series successive single-vibrissa removals unilateral ablations loss vibrissa's tantamount itself.