Representation of the body surface in somatosensory area I of tree shrews,Tupaia glis

Abstract

Microelectrode mapping methods were used to determine the organization of the first somatosensory area, S‐I, of tree shrews. Tree shrews were chosen for study because of their generalized body form, phylogenetic relationship to primates, and smooth, easily mapped cortex. A systematic representation of the contralateral body surface was found in an architectonically distinct zone identified as somatic koniocortex. Overall features of somatotopic organization were similar to S‐I of other mammals, S‐I of prosimian primates, and the Area 3b “S‐I proper” representation of monkeys. Like Area 3b in monkeys and the somatic koniocortex in galagos, S‐I in tree shrews is bordered caudally by cortex also responsive to somatosensory stimuli. Several aspects of S‐I organization in tree shrews appear to be primitive and generalized. These include the representation of the trunk with the ventrum at the caudal margin of S‐I, the restriction of the glabrous digits of the hand and foot to the rostral half of the representation and pointed rostralward, the representation of an anterior strip of the forelimb lateral to the hand, and a posterior strip of hindlimb medial to the foot representation. As in a number of other mammals, a large portion of S‐I in tree shrews is devoted to the head. However, the proportion of S‐I activated from the glabrous nose is greater in tree shrews than in any previously studied mammal. We conclude that S‐I of tree shrews has both specialized and generalized features, and that the generalized features importantly relate to an understanding of the evolution of the primate somatosensory system.