Columnar labeling was found in the primary somatosensory cortex of mice after stimulation of a single mystacial vibrissa following 2-deoxyglucose injection. The cortical vibrissal column had a cylindrical shape, passing through all layers of the cortex and was centered upon the appropriate vibrisal barrel. Columnar labeling extended beyond this barrel onto parts of neighbouring barrels, particularly within the same row. The densest labeling was found in layer IV in the barrel hollow. Removal of the non-stimulated vibrissae resulted in a subsequent lowering of 2DG uptake in the barrelfield surrounding the activated column, but did not affect the dimension of the activated column.