Spatiotemporal distribution of conditioned evoked potentials during latency of inhibition in cats

Abstract

Using a model of slightly delayed defensive conditioned reflexes in cats during acute experiments, reproduction of the memory trace was investigated in several brain structures after pre-exposure to a conditioning stimulus. The memory trace was recorded in the form of its electrographic correlates, i.e., of conditioned evoked potentials, conditioned neurographic response in the peripheral nerve, and conditioned galvanic skin response. Findings showed that prior presentation of isolated nonreinforced conditioning stimuli completely blocked the reproduction of condition evoked potentials in the auditory cortex and the zona incerta, as well as conditioned neurographic response. Production of the galvanic skin reaction (the vegetative component of the conditioned reflex) was sharply autonomic. It was concluded that the spatiotemporal structural organization of the brain, essential for complete reproduction of the conditioned reaction, was suppressed during latency of inhibition.