Dynamics of the Assimilation of an Imposed Rhythm by Neuron Assemblies in the Sensorimotor and Visual Cortical Areas of the Rabbit Brain

Abstract

The linked activity of pairs of neurons in the sensorimotor and visual zones of the cortex was analyzed in naive rabbits, rabbits being trained, and trained rabbits during formation of a latent rhythmic focus of excitation (defensive dominant) in the central nervous system. During formation of the dominant in the cortex, there was a progressive increase in the proportion of neuron pairs whose linked activity was dominated by the rhythm applied by the experimental stimulation. In the sensorimotor zone of the cortex of trained rabbits, as compared with untrained animals, there were significantly greater proportions of pairs of both close-lying and distant neurons, whose linked activity was dominated by the rhythm imposed during stimulation. In the visual zone of the cortex, a significantly greater proportion of these pairs was see only when distant neurons were studied. Analysis of the interactions of neurons in the sensorimotor and visual areas of the cortex also revealed training-associated increases in the numbers of pairs with the activity rhythm imposed during the experiment when the influences of sensorimotor cortex neurons on visual cortex neurons and vice versa were analyzed.