Cortical cells driven by the low-threshold tooth pulpal afferent in cats.

The input pattern and spatial distribution of tooth pulp-driven neurons (TPNs) in the cat cortex were studied by recording the unitary activities of these neurons. Stimulation was applied to the upper and lower canine and molar tooth pulps. It was possible to record activities of TPNs in the deep layers of the areas 3a and 3b of the coronal gyrus of cerebral cortex. TPNs driven by the ipsilateral tooth pulp stimulation were distributed more anteroventrally than those driven by contralateral stimulation. Cells driven by bilateral pulp stimulation were situated between these two neurons. The threshold intensity for TPNs in the area 3a was lower than that for neurons in 3b. The majority of TPNs in the area 3a of the anterior part of the coronal gyrus received inputs from low-threshold masseteric muscular afferents as well as from tooth pulp afferents. The findings suggest that TPNs in the area 3a may have a relation to orofacial motor functions.

Movements of the jaw and orofacial regions evoked by stimulation of two different cortical areas in cats.

Functional properties of the jaw and orofacial motor areas in the cerebral cortex of the lightly anesthetized cat were studied on the basis of the motor effects produced by intracortical microstimulation (ICMS). Jaw and orofacial motor effects were evoked by ICMS (less than 30 microA) delivered to the anterior parts of the coronal and lateral sigmoid gyri (C, coronal area), and the anterior part of the orbital gyrus (O, orbital area). Different patterns of movements in the jaw and orofacial regions were evoked from these two areas. In C one or, at most, two types of simple movement were produced by ICMS to one location, while in O more coordinated movements than those in C were produced. Cytoarchitectonically the jaw and orofacial motor areas were restricted to areas 3a, 4 gamma, and 6a beta in C, and to area 43 in O.

Distribution and response characteristics of masseteric nerve-driven neurons in two separate cortical projection areas of cats.

Cortical projection areas and distribution and response characteristics of masseteric nerve-driven neurons (MDN) were studied by recording surface-evoked potentials and single neuronal activities elicited by stimulation of the contralateral masseteric nerve in cats. Neuronal activities of MDNs could be recorded in two separate cortical areas. One was located in laminae II-III of area 3b of the posterior part of the coronal gyrus (P), and the other in laminae IV-V of areas 3a and 6a beta of the anterior parts of the coronal and lateral sigmoid gyri (A). The majority of MDNs were driven by low-threshold muscle afferents (Group I and II). Peak latencies of MDNs in P were shorter than those in A. Intracortical microstimulation (less than 30 microA) in A produced oro-facial movements while stimulation in P did not produce any motor effects.