Correlation of peripheral receptive field area and rostrocaudal locus of neurons within the raccoon cuneate nucleus.

There is a significant positive correlation between peripheral receptive field (RF) area and neuron locus within the rostrocaudal extent of the raccoon cuneate nucleus for units having tactile RFs on the glabrous surfaces of the forepaw digits, larger RFs being associated with more rostrally located neurons, smaller ones with caudally situated neurons, but not for units having tactile RFs on the glabrous surfaces of the palm. For digits and palm, RF areas of neurons of the cuneate nucleus are approximately 40 and 100 times larger, respectively, than RF areas of primary afferent fibers of the cuneate fasciculus.