Neurophysiological study of the neurons of the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi which projects to the oculomotor complex in the cat

Abstract

The spontaneous and vestibularly induced activity of 19 prepositus hypoglossi neurons antidromically activated by the electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral oculomotor complex has been recorded in awake cats.Spontaneous activity of these neurons was linearly related to horizontal eye position, increasing their firing frequency with positions further to the recording side.Sinusoidal rotation of the animal showed that these neurons were type II.Sensitivity of the neurons to eye velocity was very low.According to present results, it is concluded that prepositus hypoglossi neurons that project to the oculomotor complex are "position-velocity" units possible final destinations of prepositus terminals in the oculomotor nucleus are also discussed.