Cortical Responses to Rotation II.: Responses Recorded at the Onset of Rotation from the Second Somatic Sensory and Posterior Areas

Abstract

Using a Mnemotron computer a method has been developed permitting one to study in cats the cortical responses appearing when angular acceleration is started. According to this method the entrance of labyrinthine impulses is not restricted to the second somatic sensory area (S₂) but extends posteriorly, chiefly into parts of the auditory cortex and into the so-called association cortex (gyrus suprasylvius medius). At least in some of the experiments the anterior part of the gyrus ectosylvius posterior and the posterior corner of the gyrus suprasylvius medius (part of the second visual area) showed responses of relatively short latency. General muscle paralysis or bilateral ablation of S₂ did not prevent such responses in posterior parts of the hemisphere, while bilateral labyrinthectomy abolished them.