Reactions of neurons of the posterior ventral nucleus of the thalamus of the rat during movements of the vibrissae

The reactions of neurons of the posterior ventral nucleus of the thalamus were investigated during movements of the vibrissae, accomplished independently by the animal, in experiments on rats utilizing a technique of partial curarization proposed by the author. Differences were identified in the pattern of the reactions of the thalamic neurons to deviation of a vibrissa by the experimenter from the pattern of the reactions of the same neurons to deviation of the vibrissa elicited by its hitting against a barrier during a sweep. A dependence of the response of the sensory neurons on whether or not the barrier was mobile during the period of the sweep of the vibrissae was also demonstrated. The hypothesis is advanced that at the thalamic level the analysis of the parameters of the stimulus is accomplished in connection with information regarding movements of the vibrissae.