Abstract
Consideration of the ontogenetic development of sensory thalamus and its interrelations with cerebral cortex is fraught with numerous problems, both technical and conceptual. The histological matrix is one of the most complex in the entire nervous system, comprising as it does a variety of highly specialized pre- and postsynaptic elements, linked together in part, by intricate synaptic ensembles or glomeruli (Famiglietti, 1970; Harding, 1971; Jones and Powell, 1969; Ralston, 1971; Ralston and Hermann, 1968; Scheibel et al., 1972; Spacer and Lieberman, 1974; Szentagothai, 1963; Szantagothai et al, 1966; Tombol, 1966). The physiological characteristics of this area are equally varied and have resulted in the development of a number of models, none of which is completely satisfying (Andersen and Andersson, 1968; Andersen et al, 1964; Purpura, 1969; Scheibel and Scheibel, 1966, 1967; Scheibel et al., 1973; Schlag and Waszak, 1971; Steriade and Wyzinski, 1972; Waszak, 1974). Knowledge of thalamic synaptic chemistry and pharmacology is still limited, although substantial advances have been made in the past decade (Andersen and Curtis, 1964; Gerebtzoff, 1970; Mc Cance et al., 1968; Mc Lennan et al., 1968). Finally, the functional role and clinical significance of thalamic activity remain enigmatic despite an abundant literature and the apparent success of a limited repertoire of surgical intervention (Cooper, 1969; Cooper et al., 1971; Hassler, 1959; Jasper and Bertand, 1966; Spiegel and Wycis, 1952; Van Buren and Bork, 1972).
deceased.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Adrian, E.D.: Afferent discharges to the cerebral cortex from peripheral sense organs. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 100, 159–191 (1941).
Adrian, E.D.: Rhythmic discharges from the thalamus. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 113, 9–10 (1951).
Andersen, P.: Rhythmic 10/s activity in the thalamus. In: The Thalamus (D.Purpura and M.Yahr, Eds.). New York: Columbia University Press 1966, pp. 143–151.
Andersen, P., Andersson, S.A.: Physiological Basis of the Alpha Rhythm. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts 1968.
Andersen, P., Curtis, D.R.: The pharmacology of the synaptic and acetylcholine-induced excitation of ventrobasal thalamic neurons. Acta physiol. scand. 61, 100–120 (1964).
Andersen, P., Eccles, J.C., Sears, T.A.: The ventrobasal complex of the thalamus: types of cells, their responses, and functional organization. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 174, 370–399 (1964).
Andersson, S. A., Holmgren, E., Manson, J.R.: Synchronization and desynchronization in the thalamus of the unanesthetized decorticate cat. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol. 31, 335–345 (1971a).
Andersson, S. A., Holmgren, E., Manson, J.R.: Localized thalamic rhythmicity induced by spinal and cortical lesions. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol. 31, 347–356 (1971b).
Angevine, J. B.: Time of neuron origin in the diencephalon of the mouse. An autoradiographic study. J. comp. Neurol. 139, 129–188 (1970).
Berger, H.: On the electroencephalogram of man (1929 et seq.) (Translated by P.Gloor) Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol, Suppl. 28 (1969).
Berze, J.: Bewußtseinstonus. Psychischer Antreib und Hirnstamm. Wien. med. Wschr. (1932) No. 11; cited by Berger (1969: op. cit.).
Bowsher, D.: Termination of the central pain pathway in man. The conscious appreciation of pain. Brain 80, 606–622 (1957).
Bremer, F.: Cerveau isolé et physiologie du sommeil. C.R. Soc. Biol. Paris 118, 1235–1241 (1935).
Bremer, F.: Effets de la déafferentation complète d’une region de l’écorce cérébrale sur son activité électrique spontanée. C.R. Soc. Biol. Paris 127, 355–359 (1938a).
Bremer, F.: L’activité électrique de l’écore cérébrale (Actualités scientifiques et industrielles 658, 46). Paris: Hermann 1938b.
Cajal, R.yS.: Sur la structure de Pécorce cérébrale de quelques mammifères. La Cellule 8, 1 (1891).
Cajal, R.yS.: Contribución al estudio de la vie sensitiva central y de la estructura del talama optico. Rev. trim. Microgr. 5, 185–198 (1900).
Cajal, R.y S.: Histologie du Système Nerveux de l’Homme et des Vertébrés, Vol. 2. Paris: Maloine 1911.
Campion, G.C, Smith, G.F.: The Neural Basis of Thought. London: Regan, Paul, Trench Trubner 1934.
Chang, H.T.: The repetitive discharges of corticothalamic reverberating circuits. J. Neurophysiol. 13, 235–257 (1950).
Cooper, I.S.: Involuntary Movement Disorders. New York: Harper and Row 1969.
Cooper, I. S., Waltz, J. M., Amin, I.: Pulvinectomy—a preliminary report. J. amer. Ger. Soc. 19, 553–555 (1971).
DusserdeBarenne, J.G., McCulloch, W.S.: The direct functional interrelation of sensory cortex and optic thalamus. J. Neurophysiol. 1, 176–186 (1938).
Famiglietti, E. V.: Dendro-dendritic synapses in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. Brain Res. 20, 181–191 (1970).
Filion, M., Lamarre, Y., Cordeau, J. P.: Neuronal discharges of the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus during sleep and wakefulness in the cat. II. Evoked activity. Exp. Brain Res. 12, 499–508 (1971).
Frigyesi, T.L., Rinvik, E., Yahr, M.D.: Corticothalamic Projections and Sensorimotor Activities. New York: Raven 1972.
Garey, L.J.: The termination of thalamo-cortical fibers in the visual cortex of the cat and monkey. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 210, 15–17P (1970).
Garey, L.J., Powell, T.P. S.: An experimental study of the termination of the lateral geniculo-cortical pathway in the cat and monkey. Proc. roy. Soc. B 179, 41–63 (1971).
Gerebtzoff, M. A.: Anatomie du thalamus et histoenzymologie. Acta neurol. belg. 70, 683–686 (1970).
Getz, B.: The termination of spinothalamic fibers in the cat as studied by the method of terminal degeneration. Acta anat. 16, 271–290 (1952).
Globus, A., Scheibel, A. B.: Synaptic loci on visual cortical neurons of the rabbit: The specific afferent radiation. Exp. Neurol. 18, 116–131 (1967).
Harding, R.N.: Dendro-dendritic synapses, including reciprocal synapses in the ventro-lateral nucleus of the monkey thalamus. Brain Res. 34, 181–185 (1971).
Hassler, R.: Sterotactic brain sugery for extrapyramidal motor disturbances. In: Introduction to Stereotaxis with an Atlas of the Human Brain (G.Schaltenbrand and P.Bailey, Eds.). New York: Grune & Stratton 1959, pp. 472–88.
Head, H.: Studies in Neurology (2 vols.). London: H.Frowde; Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd., 1920
Hinds, J. W.: Autoradiographic study of histogenesis in the mouse olfactory bulb. I. Time of origin of neurons and neuroglia. J. comp. Neurol. 134, 287–304 (1968).
Jasper, H.H.: Diffuse projection systems: the integrative action of the thalamic reticular system. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol. 1, 405–420 (1949).
Jasper, H.H., Bertrand, G.: Thalamic units involved in somatic sensation and voluntary and involuntary movements in man. In: The Thalamus (D.P.Purpura and M.D. Yahr, Eds.). New York: Columbia University Press 1966.
Jones, E.G., Powell, T.P.S.: Electron microscopy of synaptic glomeruli in the thalamic relay nuclei of the cat. Proc. roy. Soc. Lond. (Biol.) 172, 153–171 (1969).
Jones, E.G., Powell, T.P.S.: An electron microscopic study of the laminar pattern and mode of termination of extrinsic afferent fibers in the somatic sensory cortex of the cat. Phil. Trans, roy. Soc. B 257, 45–62 (1970).
Karlsson, U.: Observations on the postnatal development of neuronal structures in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the rat by electron microscopy. J. ultrastruc. Res. 17, 158–175 (1967).
Kölliker, A.: Handbuch der Gewebelehre des Menschen, 6th ed., Vol. 2 (cited by Ramon y Cajal: Histologie du système nerveux de l’homme et des vertébrés (2 vols.). Paris, A.Malvine 1909–1911).
Lamarre, Y., Filion, M., Cordeau, J.P.: Neuronal discharges of the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus during sleep and wakefulness in the cat. I. Spontaneous activity. Exp. Brain Res. 12, 480–498 (1971).
Lorente de No, R.: Cortical excitatory state and synchronism in the control of bioelectric autonomous rhythms (Discussion). Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 4, 336–337 (1936).
Lorente de No, R.: Cerebral cortex: architecture, intracortical connections, motor projections. In: Physiology of the Nervous System (J.F.Fulton, Ed.), 3rd ed. London: Oxford University Press 1949, pp.288–330.
Massion, J.: Etude d’une structure motrice thalamique, le noyau ventrolatéral et de sa régulation pas les afférences sensorielles. Thesis, Faculté des Sciences de Paris, 1968.
McCance, I., Phillips, J.W., Westerman, R.A.: Acetylcholine sensitivity of thalamic neurons: its relationship to synaptic transmission. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 32, 635–658 (1968).
McLennan, H., Hoffman, R.D., Marshall, K. C.: Patterns of excitation of thalamic neurons by amino acids and by acetylcholine. Nature 219, 387–388 (1968).
Mehler, W.R.: The mammalian “pain tract” in phylogeny. Anat. Ree. 127, 332 (1957).
Mehler, W.R.: Further notes on the center median nucleus of Luys. In: The Thalamus (D.P.Purpura and M.D. Yahr, Eds.). New York: Columbia University Press 1966, pp. 109–122.
Minderhoud, J.M.: An anatomical study of the efferent connections of the thalamic reticular nucleus. Exp. Brain Res. 12, 435–446 (1971).
Morison, R.S., Dempsey, E.W.: A study of thalamocortical relations. Amer. J. Physiol. 135, 281–292 (1942).
Morison, R. S., Dempsey, E.W.: Mechanism of thalamocortical augmentation and repetition. Amer. J. Physiol. 138, 297–308 (1943).
Nauta, W.J.H., Kuypers, H.G.J.M.: Some ascending pathways in the brain stem reticular formation. In: Reticular Formation of the Brain (H.H.Jasper et al, Eds.). Boston: Little Brown 1958, pp. 3–30.
Peters, A.: Stellate cells of the rat parietal cortex. J. comp. Neurol. 141, 345–373 (1971).
Prâwdicz-Neminski, W.W.: Zur Kenntnis der elektrischen und der Innervations-Vorgänge in den funktionellen Elementen und Geweben des tierischen Organismus. Elektrocerebrogramm der Säugetiere. Pflügers Arch. 209, 362–382 (1925).
Purpura, D. P.: Analysis of axodendritic synaptic organization in immature cerebral cortex. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 94, 604–654 (1961).
Purpura, D. P.: Interneuronal mechanisms in thalamically induced synchronizing and desynchronizing activities. In: The Interneuron (M. A.Brazier, Ed.). Berkely: University of California Press 1969, pp.467–496.
Purpura, D. P.: Operationsand processes in thalamic and synaptically related neural subsystems. In: The Neurosciences, Second Study Program (F. Schmitt, Ed.). New York: Rockefeller University Press 1970, pp. 458–470.
Purpura, D.P., Yahr, M.: The Thalamus. New York: Columbia University Press 1966.
Ralston, H.J.: Evidence for presynaptic dendrites and a proposal for their mechanism of action. Nature 230, 585–587 (1971).
Ralston, H. J., Hermann, M.M.: The fine structure of neurons and synapses in the ventrobasal thalamus of the cat. Brain Res. 14, 77–97 (1968).
Rinvik, E.: Organization of thalamic connections from motor and somatosensory cortical areas in the cat. In: Corticothalamic Projections and Sensorimotor Activities (T.Frigyesi et al., Eds.). New York: Raven 1972, pp.57–88.
Riss, W., Koizumi, K., Brooks, C.M.: Basic thalamic structure and function. Brain Behav. Evol. 6, 1–560 (1972).
Scheibel, A. B., Scheibel, M.E.: Specialized organizational patterns within the nucleus reticularis thalami of the cat. Exp. Neurol. 34, 316–322 (1972).
Scheibel, M.E., Scheibel, A. B.: Structural substrates for integrative patterns in the brain stem reticular core. In: Reticular Formation of the Brain (H.H.Jasper et al, Eds.). Boston: Little Brown 1958, pp.31–55.
Scheibel, M.E., Scheibel, A.B.: Some structuro-functional correlates of maturation in young cats. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., Suppl. 24, 235–246 (1963).
Scheibel, M.E., Scheibel, A. B.: Some structural and functional substrates of development in young cats. In: The Developing Brain (H. Him wich and W.Himwich, Eds.) (Progress in Brain Research, Vol. 9). Amsterdam: Elsevier 1964, pp. 6–25.
Scheibel, M.E., Scheibel, A. B.: The organization of the nucleus reticularis thalami; a Golgi study. Brain Res. 1, 43–62 (1966a).
Seheibel, M.E., Scheibel, A.B.: Patterns of organization in specific and nonspecific thalamic fields. In: The Thalamus (D.P.Purpura and M.D. Yahr, Eds.). New York: Columbia University Press 1966b, pp. 13–46.
Scheibel, M.E., Scheibel, A. B.: Structural organization of nonspecific thalamic nuclei and their projection toward cortex. Brain Res. 6, 60–94 (1967).
Scheibel, M.E., Scheibel, A. B.: Thalamus and body image—a model. Biol. Psychiat. 3, 71–76 (1971a).
Scheibel, M.E., Scheibel, A.B.: Selected structural-functional correlation in postnatal brain. In: Brain Development and Behavior (M.B.Sterman et al, Eds.). New York: Academic 1971b, pp. 1–21).
Scheibel, M.E., Davies, T.L., Scheibel, A.B.: On dendrodendritic relations in the dorsal thalamus of the adult cat. Exp. Neurol. 36, 519–529 (1972a).
Scheibel, M.E., Davies, T.L., Scheibel, A.B.: An unusual axonless cell in the thalamus of the adult cat. Exp. Neurol. 36, 512–518 (1972b).
Scheibel, M.E., Davies, T.L., Scheibel, A. B.: On thalamic substrates of cortical synchrony. Neurology 23, 300–304 (1973).
Scheibel, M.E., Scheibel, A. B., Davies, T.L.: Some substrates for centrifugal control over thalamic cell ensembles. In: Corticothalamic Projections and Sensorimotor Activities (T.L.Frigyesi et al., Eds.). New York: Raven 1972c, pp. 131–156).
Schlag, J., Waszak, M.: Characteristics of unit responses in nucleus reticularis thalami. Brain Res. 21, 286–288 (1971).
Spacek, J., Lieberman, A. R.: Distribution of synaptic types on thalamocortical projection neurons of rat ventrobasal thalamus. J. Anat. (Lond.) 117, 212–213 (1973).
Spacek, J., Lieberman, A. R.: Ultrastructure and three-dimensional organization of synaptic glomeruli in rat somatosensory thalamus. J. Anat. (Lond.) 117, 487–516 (1974).
Spiegel, E.A., Wycis, H.T.: Stereoencephalotomy (Thalamotomy and Related Procedures). New York: Grune and Stratton 1952.
Stensaas, L.J.: The development of hippocampal and dorsolateral pallial regions of the cerebral hemispheres in fetal rabbits. VI. Ninety millimeter stage, cortical differentiation. J. comp. Neurol. 132, 93–108 (1968).
Steriade, M., Wyzinski, P.: Cortically elicted activities in thalamic reticularis neurons. Brain Res. 42, 514–520 (1972).
Szentägothai, J.: The structure of the synapse in the lateral geniculate body. Acta anat. (Basel) 55, 166–185 (1963).
Szentägothai, J.: The anatomy of complex integrative units in the nervous system. In: Recent Developments in Neurobiology in Hungary, Vol.1 (K.Lissäk, Ed.). Budapest: Akademiai Kiadö 1967, pp. 9–5).
Szentägothai, J.: Synaptology of the visual cortex. In: Central Visual Information B (R. Jung, Ed.), (Handbook of Sensory Physiology VII/3). Berlin: Springer 1973.
Szentägothai, J., Hamori, J., Tömböl, T.: Degeneration and electron microscopic analysis of the synaptic glomeruli in the lateral geniculate body, Exp. Brain Res. 2, 283–301 (1966).
Tömböl, T.: Short neurons and their synaptic relations in the specific thalamic nuclei. Brain Res. 3, 307–326 (1966).
Tömböl, T.: Collateral axonal arborization. In: Golgi Centennial Symposium (M.Santini, Ed.). New York: Raven 1974, pp.131–141.
Travis, H., Dorsey, T.: Action current studies of simultaneously active disparate fields of the central nervous system of the rat. Abst. Zbl. Neurol. 65, 635 (1932).
Valverde, F.: Apical dendritic spines of the visual cortex and light deprivation in the mouse. Exp. Brain Res. 3, 337–352 (1967).
Van Buren, J. M., Bork, R.C.: Variations and Connections of the Human Thalamus (2 vols.). New York: Springer 1972.
Waszak, M.: Firing patterns of neurons in the rostral and ventral part of nucleus reticularis thalami during EEG spindles. Exp. Neurol. 43, 38–59 (1974).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1978 Springer-Verlag, Berlin · Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Scheibel, M.E., Scheibel, A.B. (1978). The Development of Somatosensory Thalamus in Mammals. In: Jacobson, M. (eds) Development of Sensory Systems. Handbook of Sensory Physiology, vol 9. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-66880-7_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-66880-7_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-66882-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-66880-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive