Vibrissa Sensation in Superior Colliculus: Wide-Field Sensitivity and State-Dependent Cortical Feedback

摘要: Rodents use their vibrissae (whiskers) to sense and navigate the environment. A main target of this sensory information is superior colliculus in midbrain, which rats can detect meaningful whisker stimuli behavioral contexts. Here, we used field potential, single-unit, intracellular recordings show that, although cells intermediate layers respond relatively effectively single whiskers, much more robustly simultaneous, or nearly wide-field (multiwhisker) stimuli. The enhanced multiwhisker response temporally stereotyped, consisting two short latency peaks caused by convergent trigeminal synaptic inputs cortical feedback, respectively. are highly sensitive degree temporal dispersion contact order stimuli, makes them excellent detectors initial contact. In addition, output most robust during quiescent states because dependence feedback on forebrain activation, may serve as an alerting signal drive orienting responses.