Activity and distribution patterns of monkey pallidal neurons in response to peripheral nerve stimulation

The response patterns of pallidal neurons to electrical stimulation of the median and tibial nerves were examined in awake monkeys. Around 30% of the recorded neurons responded to the stimulation of either the median or tibial nerve, while only 6% responded to the stimulation of both nerves. The vast majority of these pallidal neurons displayed monophasic excitation or monophasic inhibition. The latency of the excitation was shorter than that of the inhibition. In each pallidal segment, the neurons responding to the median nerve stimulation (representing the forelimb) tended to be located ventral to those responding to the tibial nerve stimulation (representing the hindlimb). The present results indicate that the somatotopical arrangement in the globus pallidus can be outlined based on the neuronal responses to peripheral nerve stimulation.