Immediate effects of digit amputation on SI cortex in the raccoon: unmasking of inhibitory fields

Immediately after removal of one digit, inhibitory receptive fields were revealed in the affected part of somatosensory cortex. These were usually seen as 'off' responses if only a short, tapping stimulus is used. Over the course of several weeks, these inhibitory responses disappear and are replaced by excitatory responses. These changes are seen with both alpha-chloralose and barbiturate anesthesia.