1) The synaptic relationship between the trigeminothalamic terminals and thalamocortical projecting neurons were studied by using anterograde degenerating combined with HRP retrograde tracing methods.

2) The synaptic relationships between the trigeminothalamic terminals and thalamocortical relay neurons were investigated in the ventroposteromedial thalamic nucleus of the cat.

3) A neuron population model based on thalamocortical network was used to study the brain connectivity with certain mental tasks.

4) The shape and distribution of the thalamocortical projecting neurons of the central lateral nucleus in cat were investigated by the HRP method.

5) The deficit in sleep spindles in schizophrenia subjects may reflect dysfunction in thalamic-reticular and thalamocortical mechanisms and could represent a biological marker of illness.

6) CONCLUSIONS: Sleep spindles are generated by the thalamic reticular nucleus in conjunction with specific thalamic nuclei and are modulated by corticothalamic and thalamocortical connections.

7) In anterior thalamic nucleus corticothalamic projection neuron terminals form asymmetric synaptic contacts with HRP-labelled thalamocortical projection neurons by axo-dendritic synapses.

8) The synaptic connections between the medial lemniscus and the thalamocortical projecting neurons (TPN) were studied by using both anterograde degenerating and HRP retrograde tracing methods.