Distribution of Evoked Potentials on Stimulation of the Human Pulvinar

Abstract

The distribution of the evoked cortical potentials recorded during stereotactic pulvinectomy is analyzed. The evoked cortical potential shows maximal amplitude in the precentral area, with decreasing amplitude in the parietal and anterior temporal area, and minimal amplitude in the occipital area. The pulvinar has been histologically considered to have dense connections with the parietal lobe and no connection with the frontal lobe. However, our results suggest that the pulvinar has a dense functional connection with the frontal cortex, through which the pulvinar plays a role in motor function.

Cross-Correlation Analysis of the Lateral Pulvinar and Scalp EEG in Man

“…The fact that the lateral pulvinar has closer functional connection with the pre-central area rather than the parietal area, which had been thought to have dense fiber connection with the pulvinar, has been corre lated well with tire results of evoked potentials [7], This also supports the theory that the pulvinar may be related to motor function as well as sen sory function. However, it is still uncertain how the lateral pulvinar is functionally connected with the pre-central cortex.…”

“…His tological studies show that this nucleus is mainly connected to the parietal and not to the frontal lobe [4,13]. We have already reported that the pul vinar is closely connected to the pre-central area as well as the parietal lobe, as shown by evoked potential studies [7].…”

“…After studying the degree of connection, the time shift between the pulvinar and the cortical region, and the con tinuation of «-waves in each part of the brain, the correlation between the pulvinar and each part of the cortex was analyzed. The stereotactic coordinates of the lateral pulvinar were the same as in previous reports [5,7].…”