[Variations of neuronal responses in cat cerebral cortex to somatic stimulation in the presence of additional stimulants].

Abstract

Neuronal responses (areas 3, 4, 5) were registered in awake cats after electric stimulation of the contralateralis limb. External stimuli, food and defensive motivation inhibit short-latency neuronal reactions which were registered in control. When in the experiment there was electric stimulation of another limb instead of an external stimuli the neuronal reaction did not change. If subthreshold electric stimulation (SES) was given with a perceptible stimulation of such modality the spike neuronal responses appeared in either cases. This SES may be used as a conditional signal during defensive conditioning. It is established that the neuronal pattern under somatic stimulation is not constant. Its character is connected with fluctuation of cat's exteroceptive attention under external stimuli and internal motivational condition.