Effects of descending impulses on transmission through the spinocervical tract

1. Micro-electrode recordings were made from ascending axons of the spinocervical tract in unanaesthetized decerebrate cats before, during and after reversible cold block of impulse conduction in the spinal cord rostral to the recording site.2. Most units (forty-one of forty-four) fell into one of four categories as defined by their evoked responses to mechanical stimulation of identified cutaneous receptors. These categories were; Type I excited by movement of tylotrichs (hairs) in the decerebrate preparation but by movement of all types of hairs after block of descending impulses; Type II excited by movement of guard hairs and usually weakly by pressure in the decerebrate state but by movement of all types of hairs and by pressure in the spinal state; Type III excited by movement of all types of hairs and often by pressure in the decerebrate animal but by movement of all types of hairs and always by pressure in the spinal animal; Type IV weakly excited by heavy pressure or with no receptive field in the decerebrate state but excited by pressure in the spinal state.3. The descending influences depressed the spontaneous activity and the evoked responses to harmful stimuli.4. The descending influences depressed inhibitory inputs from segmental levels.5. The functional significance of the descending control is discussed.