RESPONSE OF CAT DORSAL HORN CELLS TO VARIATIONS OF INTENSITY LOCATION AND AREA OF CUTANEOUS STIMULI

The extracellular activity of cat dorsal horn cells was recorded. The stimulus consisted of a precisely controlled displacement of the clipped fur and skin of the ipsilateral hindlimb. The response to such a stimulus consisted of a transient onset discharge which was a function of hair movement and an adapting sustained discharge which was dependent on indentation of skin. The relation of the maintained discharge to the intensity of the stimulus, its location within the receptive field, and area of skin displaced by the probe was studied. Rate of firing was dependent on each of these three stimulus parameters. It was concluded that these cells would not be useful in signalling the precise location and intensity of cutaneous stimuli, but that they might serve as indicators of hair movement and total force delivered within the receptive field. © 1969.