Integration of conditioned reflex systems in intact and callosotomized dogs

Characteristics of integrative activity were studied by Kupalov's method of situational conditioned reflexes in 2 groups of dogs with complete section of the callosal body and in group of intact animals. The dogs of the first group were callosotomized before the formation of the conditioned reflex systems, the dogs of the second group--after their stabilization. The level of the reflex systems integration in the first group was considerably lower than in the second one. This testifies to a special role of the callosal body in the initial period of formation of complex conditioned systems. The callosotomized dogs developed inertia of nervous processes which was manifested in slowing down of formation and of adaptive realization of reactions during integration of various reflex systems. It was shown that the integrative activity is provided for by the interaction of cerebral hemispheres at different structural levels.     

Multineuronal cortical activity in dogs with a defensive instrumental conditioned reflex

By methods of correlation analysis, interrelations were studied of neurones with high, mean and low amplitudes of spikes singled out by amplitude principle from background multineuronal activity of the motor and somatosensory cortical zones, recorded by chronically implanted semi-microelectrodes in dogs. In trained animals, a high positive correlation was observed of singled out neurones discharges, particularly between the neurones with low and mean amplitude of spikes. By the method of cross-interval histogram, dependent relations were revealed of the neurones with different amplitude characteristic mainly of one-sided excitatory character.     

Complex alimentary motor conditioned reflex reactions in cats and dogs]

The ability of animals to perform a complex motor task representing a model of compensatory discrete tracing was investigated in dogs and cats. Elongation of a light spot on an oscilloscope screen into a vertical line served as a signal of motor reaction. The reaction consisted in several movements, each of which reduced the initial signal change by 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 or 1/5 of its value. Alimentary reinforcement was given only after a reduction of the signal to its initial level. Signals with a different number of steps of transition to their initial state were presented at random. It was found that learned animals were capable of a stable behaviour of a compensatory discrete tracing type. A hypothesis has been advanced about a probabilistic participation of visual control in the realization of tracing motor behaviour.     

Spectral-correlative characteristics of the EEG reactions preceding conditioned reflex motor reactions in dogs

The work is a logical continuation of previous studies (analysis of the background electrical activity in the band 1-100 Hz in interstimulus intervals in the process of lever pressing alimentary conditioning in dogs) and it is dedicated to correlation-spectral analysis of prestimulus periods and EEG-reactions to conditioned stimuli, previous to conditioned lever pressing. Visually the EEG reactions present discharges of high-frequency (40-100 Hz) synchronized activity preceding for 40-300 ms the beginning of the changes in EMG of the "working" limb. It is shown that EEG reactions are characterized (in comparison with the background activity) by a higher energetic level and a greater expression of the high coherence (I greater than 0.75) and also by greater phase shifts, in counterbalance to the domination of little phase shifts in the background activity. It is assumed that the patterns of EEG reactions may participate in trigger mechanisms either eliciting conditioned motor reactions (to positive conditioned stimuli) or preventing them (to inhibitory conditioned stimuli).     

Slow potentials of the prefrontal cortex in dogs and the classical secretory conditioned reflex

Slow potentials (CNV and component P300) were recorded in the medial part of the prefrontal cortex of dogs trained to classical secretory conditioned reflex and its differentiation. CNV increased when the conditioned stimulus was preceded by a signal of different meaning, as compared with CNV to the same conditioned signal following the stimulus of the same meaning; the greatest values of CNV and P300 were observed in response to differential stimulus preceded by a positive signal.