Effects of electrical stimulation of thalamic reticular nucleus on sensorimotor cortical neurons in cats

• Published in: Experimental neurology Vol. 58; no. 2; pp. 323 - 334
• Main Author: Hayrapetian, Albert A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.01.1978
• Subjects: Animals; Cats; Evoked Potentials; Motor Cortex - cytology; Motor Cortex - physiology; Neural Inhibition; Reticular Formation - physiology; Somatosensory Cortex - cytology; Somatosensory Cortex - physiology; Thalamic Nuclei - physiology
• ISSN: 0014-4886; 1090-2430
• DOI: 10.1016/0014-4886(78)90144-9

Predominance of a depressing influence of stimulation of the thalamic reticular nucleus on sensorimotor cortical neurons was shown in adult cats immobilized by d-tubocurarine after anesthesia with ether. Single shocks to the reticular nucleus elicited in cortical neurons periods of depressed phonic impulse activity with both constant and inconstant durations of about 50 to 350 ms. After the transition from single shocks to low-frequency stimulation (5 to 10 Hz), a complete change in the pattern of the periods of depressed activity was noted. In another group of neurons, an opposite pattern of reactions was observed after the same type of stimulation; single shocks repeatedly evoked neuronal firing, which became a total cessation of activity during low-frequency stimulation. This latter effect developed after the first two or three impulses of rhythmic stimulation. Considerable enhancement of the depressive effects was demonstrated by increasing the stimulation frequencies of the same nucleus. Single shocks to the reticular nucleus elicited in cortical neurons evoked firings with constant and inconstant latencies of about 8 to 50 ms in duration. Some characteristics of poststimulatory and unidirectional or multidirectional effects of the described stimulations were studied as well.