Summary
In cats, either decerebrated or under chloralose anaesthesia, Purkinje cells (P-cells) of the cerebellar nodulus have been examined with the animal under static lateral tilt (roll±20°). The cell activity was extracellularly recorded and both “simple” and “complex” spike discharge patterns were studied.
In 20 cells out of a population of 198, “simple” spike firing was found to be affected by static roll. Ten cells had an α-type response, 8 a β-type, while only single examples of γ and δ activations were found.
Out of 67 Purkinje cells tested for “complex” spike activation, 5 were found to be sensitive to static roll, 4 with an α or β response and one with a γ response.
The results are to be attributed to pure otolith activation and show that this input is able to modulate P-cell activity in the nodulus through both the mossy fibre and the climbing fibre systems.
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Marini, G., Provini, L. & Rosina, A. Gravity responses of Purkinje cells in the nodulus. Exp Brain Res 24, 311–323 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235018
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235018