Abstract #3262

Sanganahalli B, Herman P, Hyder F

We developed a controllable device for reproducible whisker stimulations to be used in both fMRI and neurophysiological studies. Transverse air flow positioned anterior-posterior to whiskers was the most competent design for experiments inside and outside the magnet, because the amplitude of air puffs from the two pumps could be matched (3%) and the frequency of the oscillating air puffs from the two pumps could be offset in time (0.1 to 20 Hz). Preliminary results from fMRI (11.7T) and neurophysiological studies show that stimulation of all whiskers increased activity in the contralateral barrel field with a maximum response at 8 Hz