Deuterium oxide modification of neuronal characteristics in the visual cortex of the cat.

The receptive field area and the spontaneous activity of complex visual cortical cells were investigated in the cat before, and after, the administration of deuterium oxide (D2O). In cats with intact labyrinths, the receptive field area of the cell usually expands, and the spontaneous activity increases. In bilaterally labyrinthectomized animals, these changes are absent. Also, D2O does not alter the spontaneous firing rate in non-visual cortical cells in normal cats.