Spatial-temporal organization of the functions of cortical neurons in a conditioned reflex to time.

The impulse activity of neurons in the motor cortex of cats during the development of a conditioned food-procuring reflex in relation to a time interval of 2 min (CRT) was analyzed. It was demonstrated, by comparing the behavioral and neurophysiological correlates of the formation of the conditioned food-procuring reaction, that its formation is accompanied by extremely complex systemic transformations which are different for neuronal micro- and macrostructures. The systemic processes in the micro- and macrostructures differed with respect to the specific characteristics of spatial distribution, and with respect to the number, strength, and stability of the manifestation of the functional connections. The capacity of the neurons for functional orientation even at the initial levels of the formation of the reaction, an increase in the per cent of incidence of functional connections in the second half of the conditioned reflex interval, and the substantial destabilization of all neuronal units at the last, highest level of formation of the conditioned reflex food-procuring reaction were common to the micro- and macrostructures in this form of learning.