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Nonspecific influences on neuronal firing in the central visual pathway

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Summary

  1. 1.

    A microelectrode investigation of 287 units in the visual cortex (VC) of chronic, semi-restrained rabbits shows that about 40% of the neurones react to different arousing non-visual stimuli (acoustic, electrocutaneous and reticular). These reactions are nonspecific, they become extinguished by stimulus repetition and bear a certain relation to the electrocortical arousal reaction, i. e. correspond to the orienting reaction to a new stimulus.

  2. 2.

    The nonspecific inhibitory influence is more common in the VC during sensory or reticular arousal: in approximately 75% of the neurones spontaneous activity and photically evoked discharges are inhibited whereas in approximately 25% they are facilitated.

  3. 3.

    In lateral geniculate body (LGB) facilitation of spontaneous and photically evoked neuronal discharges prevails during sensory arousal.

  4. 4.

    The mechanisms and functional role of these nonspecific influences are discussed.

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  1. Institute of Brain, USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow

    V. G. Skrebitsky

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Skrebitsky, V.G. Nonspecific influences on neuronal firing in the central visual pathway. Exp Brain Res 9, 269–283 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235239

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