Interaction of autorhythmic and reflex mechanisms in the responses of immature cortex of rabbit to rhythmic afferent stimuli.

The evolution of the phenomenon of spindle-shaped change in the amplitude of electric responses of the cortex to rhythmic light and sound stimuli during early ontogenesis of rabbits is described. Results are reported which permit one to consider the amplification and recruitment type responses, as well as the "sleepy spindles," as being due to activation of their ontogenetically primary autorhythmic mechanisms in the cortex and thalamus.