We studied the distribution of corticopontine cells in the monkey cerebral cortex. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected into the brainstem of monkeys in an attempt to fill the pontine nuclei on one or both sides. In control animals we injected the medullary pyramids or varied the route, size, or location of pontine injections. All retrograde filled corticopontine neurons were layer V pyramidal cells. Corticopontine cells were distributed within a largely continuous area of cortex which extended from the cingulate cortex medially to the sylvian fissure laterally; from the superior temporal fissure caudally to the medial part of the frontal granular cortex rostrally. Areas 4 and 6 of Brodmann (1905) contained the highest density of filled cells. In the primary visual cortex, area 17, there were a few labelled cells restricted to the rostral portion of the upper bank of the calcarine fissure, in a region representing the lower periphery of the visual field. The results are discussed in relation to the possible functions of the corticopontine system, especially the role of the extrastriate visual areas in visually guided movement.

Vitiligo is a progressive condition involving a loss of pigmentation in the skin; it can be disfiguring and no effective treatment or cure exists. Although vitiligo's medical effects have been studied extensively, little attention has been paid to its psychological impact or to the effects of psychological state on the illness itself. To address these issues, the present study examined the effect of cognitive behavioural therapy on coping with vitiligo and adaptation to the negative effects on body image, quality of life and self-esteem in adult patients. The study also examined whether any psychological gains acquired from psychological therapy would influence the progression of the condition itself. Two matched groups of vitiligo patients were compared, one of which received cognitive-behavioural therapy over a period of 8 weeks, while the other received no changes to their treatment status. All patients were assessed on self-esteem, body image and quality of life, prior to, immediately following and 5 months following the end of therapy. The progression of the condition was assessed by photographing patients prior to the start of counselling and 5 months following counselling. Results suggest that patients can benefit from cognitive behavioural therapy in terms of coping and living with vitiligo. There is also preliminary evidence to suggest that psychological therapy may have a positive effect on the progression of the condition itself. Implications for incorporating psychological counselling into patient care and management are discussed.

We studied the afferent and efferent connections of the caudal temporal cortex in rat using the tracer wheat germ agglutinin - horseradish peroxidase (WGA - HRP). This area is reciprocally connected with primary and secondary visual and auditory areas of cortex. The connections with primary visual cortex are restricted to the ventral and caudal parts of the caudal temporal area. Caudal temporal cortex has reciprocal connections with the perirhinal cortex and projects to the caudate - putamen and lateral and basolateral nuclei of the amygdala. It also has reciprocal connections with the nucleus lateralis posterior, the dorsal and medial divisions of the medial geniculate nucleus and the caudal part of the posterior nucleus of the thalamus. It projects to the deep layers of the superior colliculus, the pericentral nucleus of the inferior colliculus and to the ventral nucleus of the basilar pons. Our results suggest that the rat caudal temporal cortex forms part of a pathway that connects visual and auditory cortex with the limbic system, by the way of the amygdala and perirhinal cortex.

The distribution of cortical cells projecting to the pontine nuclei in rats was studied by making large injections of horseradish peroxidase that filled the basilar pons and measuring the density of labelled cells in each cortical area. All retrogradely labelled cells were layer V pyramidal cells. The highest densities of labelled cells were observed in the motor areas. The lowest densities were in temporal association cortex and perirhinal cortex. Visual cortical areas, including the primary visual cortex, provided a major source of pontine projections. The distribution of corticopontine cells within the primary visual cortex was studied in more detail. In all cases the highest density of labelled cells was observed in the region of cortex that represents the nasal visual field. Control injections into brainstem regions adjacent to the pontine nuclei produced a much lower absolute density of retrogradely labelled cortical cells and the distribution of those cells was different from that observed following pontine injections. We conclude that every area of the rat's cerebral cortex projects to the pontine nuclei and that there are consistent variations in the density of the projections both between and within areas.

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