Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 8 March 2020 doi:10.20944/preprints201911.0084.v3 Functional organisation and connectivity of the dorsal column nuclei complex reveals a sensorimotor integration and distribution hub Alastair J Loutit1,2, Richard M Vickery1, and Jason R Potas1,2 * 1School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia 2The Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia * Correspondence: Dr Jason R Potas
[email protected] © 2020 by the author(s). Distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY license. Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 8 March 2020 doi:10.20944/preprints201911.0084.v3 Abstract The dorsal column nuclei complex (DCN-complex) includes the dorsal column nuclei (DCN, referring to the gracile and cuneate nuclei collectively), external cuneate, X, and Z nuclei, and the median accessory nucleus. The DCN are organised by both somatotopy and modality, and have a diverse range of afferent inputs and projection targets. The functional organisation and connectivity of the DCN implicate them in a variety of sensorimotor functions, beyond their commonly accepted role in processing and transmitting somatosensory information to the thalamus, yet this is largely underappreciated in the literature. To consolidate insights into their sensorimotor functions, this review examines the morphology, organisation, and connectivity of the DCN and their associated nuclei. First, we briefly discuss the receptors, afferent fibres, and pathways involved in conveying tactile and proprioceptive information to the DCN. Next, we review the modality and somatotopic arrangements of the remaining constituents of the DCN-complex.