The influence of high-frequency stimulation of the midbrain reticular formation on the interaction of neurons of the neocortex.

The influence of the stimulation of the midbrain reticular formation (NRT) at a frequency of 75-100 Hz, current strength 33-400 microA, on the interaction of neurons of the visual and sensorimotor areas of the neocortex of rabbits was investigated. Cross- and autocorrelation histograms of the impulse sequences were plotted. Stimulation of the NRT led to an increase in the number of pairs of neurons functioning in correlation and an increase in the probability of discharges of neurons one after the other with delays from 100 to 400 msec as compared with resting wakefulness. The mechanisms of the interaction of the cells were not altered in the process. Comparison with previously obtained data made it possible to conclude that activation of the NRT may lead to specific changes in the interaction of neurons which are observable during pseudoconditioning and at the beginning of the development of a conditioned reflex.