Table 1.

Experimental overview

ExperimentGroups of ratsDescription
Fine-grained distance detectionOne (n = 5)Quantify the ability of rats to gauge differences in aperture width
Cutting all whiskersSame group as aboveControl experiment to ensure that rats use only their large mystacial vibrissae
Multiwhisker integrationARCS INTACT (n = 4) ROWS INTACT (n = 4)Systematically remove individual whiskers to examine multi-whisker integration and whisker functionality
Role of whisker movementFN 1-a cut (n = 3)Section facial nerve to examine role of whisker movement
Involvement of barrel cortexSI 1-b lesion (n = 3) Control (n = 3)Lesion barrel cortex to examine involvement of this cortical region

  • A brief description of each of the five different experiments and the experimental groups of rats included in each experiment.

  • ↵F1-a Facial nerve.

  • ↵F1-b Somatosensory cortex.