Inhibitory effects of external stimulation on neuronal spike response in the cat association cortex during conditioning

Abstract

The effects of external stimulus presentation on neuronal spike response induced in area 7 by conditioned and unconditioned stimuli were investigated in waking cats. Pointing reaction arising in response to the action of external stimuli led to the phasing out of spike response to unconditioned cutaneous stimulation, as well as depression or complete suppression of response in area 7 neurons to conditioned stimulus presentation, despite occurrence of conditioned reflex motion. External stimuli no longer exerted an inhibitory effect on the neuronal spike response induced by protracted use of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. The fact that the conditioned lever-pressing reflex could occur either following or without neuronal spike response in area 7 would raise the question of whether neurons belonging to this area always participate directly in the triggering and occurrence of conditioned reflex motion.