Recovery cycles of visual cortical primary responses during pharmacological and electrical intervention on monoaminergic systems of the rat brain

Abstract

1. High-frequency (500 Hz) electrical stimulation of serotoninergic (5-HTE) or noradrenergic (NAE) brain systems (the nuclei raphe or locus coeruleus respectively) shortens the duration and reduces the depth of the phase of relative areactivity in recovery cycles of primary visual cortical responses in rats. 2. Potentiation of the activity of 5-HTE or NAE systems with the aid of drugs has a similar effect. 3. Combined (pharmacological and electrical) action on the activity of the monoaminergic systems is accompanied by changes in recovery cycles of primary responses, evidence of reciprocity of functional relations between the 5-HTE and NAE systems of the brain.