Reflection of the systemic mechanisms of instrumental behavior in the activity of brain neurons.

Changes in the impulse activity of neurons of the sensorimotor, parietal associative, and visual areas of the cerebral cortex were studied during the performance of conditioned instrumental alimentary behavior by an animal. Comparative analysis of impulse activity of the neurons investigated showed that 71.4% of the cells of the parietal associative area of the cerebral cortex were activated when the conditional stimulus was turned on; 75.8% of neurons of the visual cortex were activated when the animal pressed the pedal; 82.5% of the cells of the somatosensory and 75.8% of the visual area of the cerebral cortex increased activity upon appearance of milk in the food dispenser. During lapping of the milk, 75.8% of cells of the visual cortex showed reduction of activity. Reorganization of the impulse activity of individual neurons of the cerebral cortex reflected the unfolding of pretriggering integration formed as the result of preliminary training of the animal. The character of the impulse activity of the neurons investigated at the stage of realization of the program of the action and obtaining of reinforcement was determined primarily by the streams of afferent excitations arising during the perception of parameters of the stage-related and final results of the behavior.

[The reflection in the neuronal activity of the brain of the systemic mechanisms of instrumental behavior]. / Otrazhenie v deiatel'nosti neironov mozga sistemnykh mekhanizmov instrumental'nogo povedeniia.

Changes of unit activity in the somatosensory, associative, and visual cortical areas were studied in cats during the conditioned operant feeding behaviour. Comparative analysis showed that 71.4% of the neurons in the associative cortical area increased their activity when a conditioned stimulus was switched on; 75.8% of the visual cortex neurons were activated as the cat pressed the lever; 82.5% of the cells in the somatosensory and 75.8% of the cells in the visual cortical areas increased their discharge activity at the moment when milk appeared in the cup; 75.8% of the cells in the visual cortical area lowered their activity during lapping. Reorganization of the discharge activity of the studied neurons reflected the integration that assembled during the preliminary training of the animal. Patterns of spike activity of the cells during the realization of the program of action and achieving the reinforcement were determined by perception of the parameters of the intermediate and end results.