Inhibition and facilitation of afferent information by the caudate nucleus.

Stimulation of the caudate nucleus modifies inputs to the visual system of the cat. The modification of such sensory information is similar to the modification seen on stimulation of the thalamus and brain stem reticular formation. Preliminary stimulation of the caudate nucleus at different intervals prior to the afferent input may have facilitatory or inhibitory effects on both evoked potentials and unitary responses of the visual cortex.