Involvement of the Caudate Nucleus in the Modulation of the Brain Somatosensory Evoked Potentials

Abstract

The participation of the caudate nucleus in the modulation of the cortical somatosensory evoked potentials was investigated in male rabbits. The power spectra of the somatosensory evoked potential recorded from the scalp in the intact animal was compared with that recorded after kainic acid lesion of specific regions of the caudate nucleus (i.e., anterior and or posterior portions of the head of the nucleus) and the “destructive” interference patterns which appeared were investigated. It was found that the caudate's head modulates the waveform at the end of the early phase of the cortical somatosensory evoked potentials, i.e., the period from 20.8 ms to 29.4 ms. These results suggest that the caudate nucleus is part of the sensory pathways belonging to the nonspecific projection system and participates in the integrating processes of the somatosensory information.

Key Words:

• evoked potential
• caudate nucleus