Dopaminergic modulation of the neuron activity in the cerebral cortex of the wakeful animal.

Specific effects of the dopamine synaptic transmission modulator on the activity of sensomotor cortical neurons in a wakeful animal, performing a conditioned reflex are discussed. First, specific responses in the neocortical neurons after application of glutamate agonists and antagonists and gamma aminobutyric acid are described and then the effect of dopamine, its agonists and antagonists and amantadine, a dopamine releaser, on the background and induced pulse activities in the cortical neurons, as well as on specific characteristics of conditioned reflex motor responses, such as latency and intensity are analyzed in detail.