Figure 5.

(A–D) Four examples (from four animals) of the spatial extent of the sensory reorganization process in the VPM after the following manipulations: SI Inactivation, Facial Lidocaine with SI Inactive, and Facial Lidocaine without SI Inactivation. The spatial extent of the reorganization was quantified by measuring the number of stimulated whiskers (shaded circles) that produced novel responses. SI inactivation resulted in reorganization throughout most of the VPM. In contrast, the spatial extent of reorganization after facial lidocaine with SI inactive was much more localized, bordering the site of injection and extending only one or two whisker rows from the injection site. The spatial extent of reorganization after facial lidocaine without SI inactivation (SI Intact) did not differ significantly from the reorganization with SI inactivation. However, there was an overall trend toward a greater spread of reorganization when SI was not inactivated (SI Intact).