The effect of midbrain reticular stimulation upon perigeniculate neurons activity during different states of the sleep-waking cycle in the cat

Abstract

Electrical stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation in chronic cats induced state-dependent effects on spontaneous firing of perigeniculate neurons. Perigeniculate neurons fired at lower rates during slow wave sleep than during wakefulness of paradoxical sleep. The stimulation caused a firing decrease in slow wave sleep; an effect which faded during wakefulness and paradoxical sleep and was superseded by a firing increase during periods of eye movements in 30% of the neurons. The responsiveness of perigeniculate neurons to optic tract and visual cortex stimulation either remained unchanged or was enhanced during the reticular induced firing changes.