Tactile discrimination study of the dorsal column-medial lemniscal system and spino-cervico-thalamic tract in cat

Summary The role of two spinal sensory pathways, the dorsal column (DC) pathway and the spino-cervico-thalamic tract (SCTT), involved in tactile discrimination was studied. Pour lesion groups of cats (DC lesion, SCTT lesion, combined DC and SCTT lesion, and sham-operated) were tested to discriminate various degrees of roughness. Animals with either the SCTT or the combined lesions performed at around 50–60% level under all the conditions tested. On the other hand, those with the DC lesion and sham-operations generally attained 80–100% level of performance.A difference between the DC group and sham-operated group was found in their rate of learning and ability for finer discrimination. These results are interpreted as an indication that a duplicity in transmission of tactile sensation exists, the DC pathway being more specific than the SCTT.This work was supported by USPHS Grants NB 00403, AM 6705 and FR 5384-07.