Body surface maps in the somatosensory cortex of rabbit

Abstract

The organization of somatosensory maps was examined in rabbits with the aid of microelectrode multi‐unit recording techniques. Two complete maps of the contralateral body surface are identified in the parietal cortex. The first map, S I, is found entirely on the lateral convexity of the hemisphere and closely resembles S I described in the rat (Welker, '71, '76). It is organized in a complex, though systematic, fashion with the representations of the hindlimb and tail located caudomedially. These representations are followed laterally in sequence by those of the trunk and forelimb and then the representation of the head. Within the head representation the lips are found rostrally, the vibrissae caudomedially, and the displaced representation of the pinna of the ear is located caudolaterally. Unlike the disposition in most other mammals, the dorsal midline of the trunk is represented along the caudal border of S I. Within S I, the representations of the circumoral surfaces, including the lips, philtrum, nose, and vibrissae, are emphasized, occupying approximately 86.4% of the map. It is suggested that S I is contained within a single major koniocortical region, here called the medial parietal area, or Pm. The several previously described parietal regions (Rose, '31; Fleischhauer et al., '80) are interpreted as subregions that are related to particular representations of portions of the body surface. The second map, S II, is located lateral to S I in a region here called the lateral parietal area or Pl. S II shares a common border with S I along the representations of the philtrum, bridge of the nose, and top of the head. The body is oriented in an erect conformation with the head located rostrally and medially and the hindlimb and tail located caudally and laterally.