scholarly journals Functional Organisation and Connectivity of the Dorsal Column Nuclei Complex Reveals a Sensorimotor Integration and Distribution Hub

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alastair J. Loutit ◽  
Richard M. Vickery ◽  
Jason R. Potas
Keyword(s):  
Dorsal Column ◽  
Proprioceptive Information ◽  
Dorsal Column Nuclei ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Somatosensory Information ◽  
Functional Organisation ◽  
Functional Implications ◽  
Complex Integration ◽  
Sensorimotor Information ◽  
Afferent Inputs

The dorsal column nuclei complex (DCN-complex) includes the dorsal column nuclei (DCN, referring to the gracile and cuneate nuclei collectively), external cuneate, X, and Z nuclei, and the median accessory nucleus. The DCN are organised by both somatotopy and modality, and have a diverse range of afferent inputs and projection targets. The functional organisation and connectivity of the DCN implicate them in a variety of sensorimotor functions, beyond their commonly accepted role in processing and transmitting somatosensory information to the thalamus, yet this is largely underappreciated in the literature. To consolidate insights into their sensorimotor functions, this review examines the morphology, organisation, and connectivity of the DCN and their associated nuclei. First, we briefly discuss the receptors, afferent fibres, and pathways involved in conveying tactile and proprioceptive information to the DCN. Next, we review the modality and somatotopic arrangements of the remaining constituents of the DCN-complex. Finally, we examine and discuss the functional implications of the myriad of DCN-complex projection targets throughout the diencephalon, midbrain, and hindbrain, in addition to their modulatory inputs from the cortex. The organisation and connectivity of the DCN-complex suggest that these nuclei should be considered a complex integration and distribution hub for sensorimotor information.

scholarly journals The Dorsal Column Nuclei Neuroanatomy Reveals A Complex Sensorimotor Integration and Distribution Hub

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alastair J. Loutit ◽  
Richard M. Vickery ◽  
Jason R. Potas
Keyword(s):  
Sensorimotor Integration ◽  
Dorsal Column ◽  
Proprioceptive Information ◽  
Dorsal Column Nuclei ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Somatosensory Information ◽  
Functional Implications ◽  
Complex Integration ◽  
Sensorimotor Information ◽  
Afferent Inputs

The dorsal column nuclei (DCN) are organised by both somatotopy and modality, and have a diverse range of afferent inputs and projection targets. The functional organisation and connectivity of the DCN implicate them in a variety of sensorimotor functions, beyond their commonly accepted role in processing and transmitting somatosensory information to the thalamus, yet this is largely underappreciated in the literature. In this review, we examine the morphology, organisation, and connectivity of the DCN and their associated nuclei, to improve understanding of their sensorimotor functions. First, we briefly discuss the receptors, afferent fibres, and pathways involved in conveying tactile and proprioceptive information to the DCN. Next, we review the modality and somatotopic arrangements of the constituents of the dorsal column nuclei complex (DCN-complex), which includes the gracile, cuneate, external cuneate, X, and Z nuclei, and Bischoff’s nucleus. Finally, we examine and discuss the functional implications of the myriad of DCN-complex projection targets throughout the midbrain, and hindbrain, in addition to their modulatory inputs from the cortex. The organisation and connectivity of the DCN-complex suggest that these nuclei should be considered a complex integration and distribution hub for sensorimotor information.

scholarly journals The Dorsal Column Nuclei Complex Neuroanatomy Reveals a Complex Sensorimotor Integration and Distribution Hub

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alastair J. Loutit ◽  
Richard M. Vickery ◽  
Jason R. Potas
Keyword(s):  
Sensorimotor Integration ◽  
Dorsal Column ◽  
Proprioceptive Information ◽  
Dorsal Column Nuclei ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Somatosensory Information ◽  
Functional Implications ◽  
Complex Integration ◽  
Sensorimotor Information ◽  
Afferent Inputs

The dorsal column nuclei complex (DCN-complex) includes the dorsal column nuclei (DCN, referring to the gracile and cuneate nuclei collectively), external cuneate, X, and Z nuclei, and the median accessory nucleus. The DCN are organised by both somatotopy and modality, and have a diverse range of afferent inputs and projection targets. The functional organisation and connectivity of the DCN implicate them in a variety of sensorimotor functions, beyond their commonly accepted role in processing and transmitting somatosensory information to the thalamus, yet this is largely underappreciated in the literature. To consolidate insights into their sensorimotor functions, this review examines the morphology, organisation, and connectivity of the DCN and their associated nuclei. First, we briefly discuss the receptors, afferent fibres, and pathways involved in conveying tactile and proprioceptive information to the DCN. Next, we review the modality and somatotopic arrangements of the remaining constituents of the DCN-complex. Finally, we examine and discuss the functional implications of the myriad of DCN-complex projection targets throughout the diencephalon, midbrain, and hindbrain, in addition to their modulatory inputs from the cortex. The organisation and connectivity of the DCN-complex suggest that these nuclei should be considered a complex integration and distribution hub for sensorimotor information.

scholarly journals A chronic neural interface to the macaque dorsal column nuclei

2016 ◽  
Vol 115 (5) ◽  
pp. 2255-2264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G. Richardson ◽  
Pauline K. Weigand ◽  
Srihari Y. Sritharan ◽  
Timothy H. Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Brain Stem ◽  
Receptive Fields ◽  
Dorsal Column ◽  
Single Units ◽  
Field Potentials ◽  
Dorsal Column Nuclei ◽  
Unit Recording ◽  
Somatosensory Information ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Brain

The dorsal column nuclei (DCN) of the brain stem contain secondary afferent neurons, which process ascending somatosensory information. Most of the known physiology of the DCN in primates has been acquired in acute experiments with anesthetized animals. Here, we developed a technique to implant a multielectrode array (MEA) chronically in the DCN of macaque monkeys to enable experiments with the animals awake. Two monkeys were implanted with brain-stem MEAs for 2–5 mo with no major adverse effects. Responses of the cuneate and gracile nuclei were quantified at the level of both field potentials and single units. Tactile receptive fields (RFs) were identified for 315 single units. A subset of these units had very regular spiking patterns with spike frequencies predominantly in the alpha band (8–14 Hz). The stability of the neuronal recordings was assessed with a novel analysis that identified units by their mean spike waveform and by the spike-triggered average of activity on all other electrodes in the array. Fifty-six identified neurons were observed over two or more sessions and in a few cases for as long as 1 mo. RFs of stable neurons were largely consistent across days. The results demonstrate that a chronic DCN implant in a macaque can be safe and effective, yielding high-quality unit recording for several months. The unprecedented access to these nuclei in awake primates should lead to a better understanding of their role in sensorimotor behavior.

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