Unitary Components in the Activation of Clarke's Column Neurones

Abstract

Abstract In response to muscle stretch unitary EPSPs were recorded from group I activated dorsal spinocerebellar tract (DSCT) neurones. The size of the different unitary EPSP varied appreciably, the largest was about 5 mV. The rise time and decay times of the unitary EPSPs varied only between 0.2–1 msec and 1–3 msec respectively. The estimate of the number of primary afferent fibres converging on to each second order neurone ranged from 12 to 16. The distribution of amplitudes of individual unitary EPSPs was symmetrical with a coefficient of variation as low as 0.10. This suggests that a large number of quanta are released by each impulse in the primary afferent fibres.