Abstract
Electrophysiologic studies in cats were undertaken to determine the possible pathways for somatosensory transmission to the centrum medianum and pulvinar nuclei of the thalamus. The effects of discrete lesions in the various thalamic nuclei, mesencephalic reticular formation and spinal cord on the evoked potentials of the centrum medianum and pulvinar were recorded. It was noted that the centrum medianum and pulvinar had a dual activation from both dorsal and ventrolateral columns of the cord. The ventrolateral column component was mediated by the bulbar reticular formation and is believed to transmit nociceptive stimuli. The findings were correlated with known information about the mediation of acute and chronic pain and are consistent with the concept of a paleospinothalamic system for pain transmission.