GENICULATE UNIT RESPONSES TO SINE-WAVE PHOTIC STIMULATION DURING WAKEFULNESS AND SLEEP.

The oscillation in firing rate of units of the lateral geniculate body in response to stimulation with sine-wave light was studied in unanesthetized cats with the brainstem sectioned immediately in front of the fifth nerve (pretrigeminal preparation). During wakefulness, as indicated by behavior and by electroencephalograms, the time course of the oscillation in firing rate followed very closely the change in intensity of sine-wave light. During synchronized sleep there was no such relationship.