Sensory mapping of the rat cerebral cortex by thermographic methods

Using thermovision and digital image processing, the dynamics of thermomap in the brain cortex has been studied on albino rats through the opened skull before and during sensory stimulation. Photic, sonic and somatosensory stimuli lead to the onset of local heating foci in the corresponding cortical zones, as well as to local multiple thermoresponses in other areas. Some quantitative parameters of these effects are given and their possible mechanisms are discussed.     

Temperature reactions of the cerebral cortex in the rat and the distant effect of an experimentally evoked excitatory focus

By means of dynamic thermovision method, distant reactions of the cerebral cortex were studied in white rats appearing under local chemical action (2% KCl). Besides the previously described temperature wave SD (T-wave), in these conditions in the contralateral hemisphere local areas of warming up (0.2-0.3 degrees) were observed symmetrical with the place of stimulation. Under local chemical action, latent foci of excitation were revealed on dynamic thermal maps of the brain surface in the areas of the same or contralateral hemisphere, distant from the places of stimulation. During creation of two K+ foci a change was observed of place of T-wave appearance and of the usual order of its propagation over the cortex and also the formation of a focus of prolonged temperature fluctuations in the place of two T-waves meeting. On the basis of the obtained data a number of questions is discussed on the forms and mechanisms of distant effects in the CNS.     

Thermovision monitoring of neurografts in the rat

By thermovision technique and images digital processing, thermal fields and reactions of dorsal cortical surface of 15 white rats were studied through the intact skull in various times after transplantation of the embryonal visual cortex, amygdala and hippocampus into the visual cortex. After operation significant thermoasymmetries arise outside transplantation area which in early periods (2-15 days) are dynamic, and in 5-5.5 months become stabilized. At successful implantation, transplantat area in background state in late terms is not thermodistinct, and in pseudo-transplanted animals--is cooled. In transplantat area, a changed thermoreaction to light stimulation is recorded, and in early terms it is connected with thermal flow from neighbouring cortical sites.     

The organization of the network characteristics of the cells in local and distributed neuronal networks of the cat brain]

In cats with elaborated alimentary instrumental reflexes to light net characteristics of neurones of visual, motor cortex and the hypothalamus lateral nucleus were studied on the basis of revealed interneuronal interactions by means of cross-correlation method of analysis. Different organization of net properties of the cortical neurones in organization of local and distributed neuronal networks was shown, namely: predominance of the divergent characteristics over the convergent ones for cells in local networks and levelling of these relations in distributed nets. Neurones of the lateral hypothalamus nucleus had equal presentation of divergent and convergent properties in organization of local and distributed networks. Net characteristics of neurones of the cortical and subcortical structures were manifested in the background after the elaboration and the extinction of conditioned reflexes. Only small cells of the visual cortex were functionally dependent and changed correlation of net characteristics in local networks at CR extinction.     

The role of the lateral and medial hypothalamus in reproducing a motor reaction as the signal during the acquisition of classical conditioned reflexes]

In experiments on three dogs there was shown that testing electrostimulation of the lateral hypothalamus reproduced the motor reaction which is a signal stimulus at elaboration of classic alimentary conditioned reflexes (CRs) and did not reproduce it at elaboration of classic defensive CR. Testing electrostimulation of medial parts of the hypothalamus reproduced, as LH electrostimulation the "signal" motor reaction, but in less percentage of cases, during elaboration of classic alimentary CRs and did not reproduce it at elaboration of classic defensive CRs. The reproduction of the signal motor reaction at LH electrostimulation is connected with activation of backward conditioned connection from motivation structures of the hypothalamus to representation of the signal stimulus in the motor cortex.     

The neuronal organization of a focus of conditioned excitation in the cat sensory-motor cortex]

The activity of single units in the focus of conditioned excitation was studied during defensive conditioning to direct electrical stimulation of the cat sensorimotor cortex. Reorganizations of spike activity set in during the period of reflex elaboration, were manifest in the increased number of excited neurones and those which respond both to the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. In the course of elaboration, the inhibitory phase of unit responses to direct electrical stimulation of the sensorimotor cortex was reduced, while the frequency of background unit spike activity was enhanced. Acute extinction of the reflex restored the initial duration of the inhibitory phase and reduced the frequency of the background activity.     

Integrative properties of parietal cortex neurons of rabbits during the switching of heterogeneous classical conditioned reflexes

The impulsive activity of parietal cortex neurons of rabbits during the elaboration and specialisation of switching-over of alimentary and defensive conditioned reflexes has been studied. There are changes of parietal cortex neurons activity correlated with the stages of switching-over elaboration. The significant differences of the background neurons activity and neurons response to the conditional signal during alimentary and defensive conditioned reflexes have been established. The dominant motivation influences the neurons activity by modulation of background and conditioned activity of neurons. The integrative properties of neurons investigated in switching-over situation are revealed in their ability to summarize the excitation coming to the same sensory input with excitation from different motivational and reinforcement systems.     

Parameters of photic stimulation and characteristics of thermal response in the white rat cerebral cortex

The dynamics of the localized thermal response produced in the cerebral cortex when a retinal photic stimulation pattern is established were studied through the unopened skull during acute experiments on white rats using techniques of thermovision and digital image processing. The relationship was evaluated between amplitude, time course, and spatial characteristics of response on the one hand and stimulus size, position on the retina, focus, duration, quantity, and frequency of presentation on the other. A discussion follows of the properties, significance, and underlying mechanisms of the thermal effects discovered.Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 332–340, May–June, 1985.     

Dynamic thermal mapping of rat brain during sensory stimulation and spreading depression

Using both techniques of thermovision and statistical analysis of thermal imaging, dynamics of temperature distribution over the dorsal surface of the brain were investigated through the intact skull during acute experiments on white rats. Both diffuse and regionally specific cerebral thermal reactions were observed during visual, acoustic, and somatosensory stimulation, together with multiple local thermal response, often following a specific pattern. These outline thermal effects differing from the compartment of the brain to another in degree, stability, and point of onset. Temperature waves developed together with spreading depression, produced in the cortex by injecting KC1. Once investigations had been performed this response could be divided into diffuse and spatially ordered components. The possible mechanisms of this thermal imaging of brain processes are discussed, together with how they are linked with changes in cerebral blood flow and neuronal metabolic thermal production.Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 26–35, January–February, 1986.     

The noradrenaline and serotonin content in symmetrical parts of the normal rat brain and during learning and peptide administration]

Content was compared of noradrenaline (NA) and serotonine (5-OT) in the right and left halves of the rats brain in norm, at elaboration of defensive conditioned reflexes of two-ways avoidance (CRTWA) and at administration of neuropeptides influencing the learning and memory--dezglycilargininvasopressin (DG-AVP), ACTH4-7 pro-gli-pro and dalargin. The conducted studies showed that in control animals the content of NA in the cortex of the right hemisphere was significantly higher than in the cortex of the left one. For the content of 5-OT in symmetric brain parts no significant differences were revealed. Under the elaboration of CRTWA the asymmetry of NA content was not eliminated. Systemic administration of DG-AVP, ACTG4-7 pro-gli-pro and dalargin practically did not change the content of 5-OT, but reduced the content of NA in the cortex and the rest of the brain, and the content of NA in the right and left cortex was equalized. The obtained data point to the asymmetric character of neuropeptides action and to greater resistance of 5-OT-ergic brain system to functional load and to administration of peptides in comparison with NA-ergic system.     

The dependence of the neuronal reactions of the sensorimotor cortex to a simultaneous complex stimulus on the level of the differentiation of its components]

On alert animals the change was studied of the neuronal activity of the sensorimotor cortical area of cats brain in dependence on the level of differentiation of the components of simultaneous heteromodal complex stimulus. According to the character of this dependence and a number of other parameters two groups of neurones were singled out in the sensorimotor cortex. It was shown that parameters of reactions of all recorded neurones of the sensorimotor cortex to the positive conditioned signal were the first established after consolidation of the animal conditioned motor activity. In the course of elaboration following parameters changed: expressiveness, intensity, duration and value of latency. Reactions of neurones of both groups to the inhibitory stimuli were stabilized only after consolidation of the habit of differentiation. Responses of the first group neurones changed only by the pattern of discharge, while the responses of the second group neurones could change by expressiveness of response, its sign, duration and value of latency. Oscillations of the differentiation level after finishing of the elaboration of inhibitory conditioned reactions affected only the responses of the second group neurones to complex components.     

Changes in the protein level in rat hippocampal neurons during development of the alimentary conditioned reflex under normal conditions and after treatment with iproniazid

The protein content in neurons of areas CA-1 and CA-3 of the dorsal hippocampus has been determined by means of cytointerferometry in rats during elaboration of unlocal alimentary instrumental reflex (ULAIR) and local alimentary instrumental reflex (LAIR) on the background of increased and normal serotonine content in the brain. It has been found that during the ULAIR elaboration the hippocampal neurons react by an increase of dry mass, during the LAIR elaboration-by its decrease. Under condition of serotonine excess in the brain the changes of dry mass in hippocampal neurons during elaboration of the two reflexes are opposite to these observed during the ULAIR and LAIR elaboration with normal serotonine content.     

The correlations of the evoked activity of the auditory cortex and amygdala in cats during conditioned reflex activities]

By averaged summary activity of symmetric points of the cat auditory cortex and amygdala evoked by sound, the character of interaction (Spirman coefficient of correlation) was determined between the structures before, at elaboration, at extinction and restoration of instrumental food-procuring reflex and also at automatization of the reflex. Individual character of co-tuning of the cortex and amygdala was found at adaptation of the animal, changing into close interconnections at formation of the reflex and into disturbance of their correlation at its extinction. Stabilization of the reflex up to the stage of automatization was accompanied by the weakening of connections between the cortex and amygdala. The results testify to complex and dynamic character of interaction in the system cortex-amygdala in conditioned activity.     

Dynamics of caudate nucleus involvement in the process of internal inhibition of the food-getting reflex]

Changes of slow spindle electrical activity (12 to 14 cps) and evoked potentials in the cat caudate nuclei and the motor cortex were studied at different stages of elaboration of differentiation inhibition of a conditioned food-procuring reflex to acoustic stimuli. It has been shown that participation of the caudate nuclei in the inhibitory process begins at the stage of enhancement of food-procuring activity (second stage) and is apparently due to the animal's strong alimentary motivational excitation. At the third stage the inhibitory influence of caudate nuclei on the animal's motor activity in general, and the activity of the motor cortex in particular, develops to the full.     

Conditioned reflex changes in the intra-analyzer interaction of the afferent inputs from the lateral geniculate body and pulvinar thalami in the cerebral cortex of cats

Paired heterogeneous stimulation of the lateral geniculate body (LGB) and pulvinar (Pulv) as a conditioned stimulus of alimentary instrumental conditioned reflex (CR), resulted in a change of relations between afferent inputs from LGB and Pulv to the visual and associative cortex of cats. At stimulation of LGB preceding by 40 ms, facilitation of the response to testing Pulv stimulation observed in untrained cats, appeared only at the beginning of the learning and was suppressed by the end of elaboration, when the amplitude of the response to the conditioning LGB stimulation greatly increased. In the process of CR elaboration (in the middle of learning), Pulv stimulation preceding by 40 ms facilitated the response to the testing LGB stimulation and simultaneously increased the amplitude of the response to the conditioning Pulv stimulation.     

Heterochronic effects of neurotrophic factors in neurochemical organization of learning and memory in the adult organism

Following elaboration of long-term habituation to a startle-response, antibodies to neurotrophic factor protein S100b exerted selective and dose-dependent influence on different learning processes and memory of learned behavioural patterns in adult rats. S100b increased at all stages of behavioural skill development in hippocampus, hypothalamus, frontal cortex, cerebellar hemispheres and vermis, basal ganglia.     

Movement of thermowaves over the cerebral cortex in the white rat

Thermal spatial distribution and temperature pattern were recorded using techniques of thermovision and digital image processing through the intact skull during acute experiments on white rats immobilized using myorelaxants or anesthetized with Nembutal. Under certain circumstances faint cortical thermowaves of 0.2-0.1°C were seen to arise and move 8–30 mm across the cortex for 2–9 sec at a speed of 2–10 mm per sec. One of the trajectories of movement detected was circular in shape; the thermowave would start off in one hemisphere, spread across it in either direction, and cross to the other hemisphere. It would then move through the second hemisphere to the opposite side and finally return to the original area. Movement of the waves also followed linear and arc-shaped trajectories, sometimes but not always crossing over to the opposite hemisphere. The mechanisms and implications of this phenomenon are discussed.Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 340–346, May–June, 1986.     

Opposing roles for neurotrophin-3 in targeting and collateral formation of distinct sets of developing cortical neurons.

Neurotrophin-3 and its receptor TrkC are expressed during the development of the mammalian cerebral cortex. To examine whether neurotrophin-3 might play a role in the elaboration of layer-specific cortical circuits, slices of layer 6 and layers 2/3 neurons were cultured in the presence of exogenously applied neurotrophin-3. Results indicate that neurotrophin-3 promotes axonal branching of layer 6 axons, which target neurotrophin-3-expressing layers in vivo, and that it inhibits branching of layers 2/3 axons, which avoid neurotrophin-3-expressing layers. Such opposing effects of neurotrophin-3 on axonal branching were also observed with embryonic cortical neurons, indicating that the response to neurotrophin-3 is specified at early developmental stages, prior to cell migration. In addition to its effects on fiber branching, axonal guidance assays also indicate that neurotrophin-3 is an attractive signal for layer 6 axons and a repellent guidance cue for layers 2/3 axons. Experiments with specific antibodies to neutralize neurotrophin-3 in cortical membranes revealed that endogenous levels of neurotrophin-3 are sufficient to regulate branching and targeting of cortical axons. These opposing effects of neurotrophin-3 on specific populations of axons demonstrate that it could serve as one of the signals for the elaboration of local cortical circuits.     

Dynamics of acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain during elaboration and stabilization of defensive conditioned reflexes

Electro-defensive condtioned reflexes (CR) to light were elaborated in rats in Y-maze in one experimental session and their training was continued during subsequent 20 sessions. Immediately after CR elaboration or the 20th session of its training, AChE activity in the motor and visual cortex and the hippocampus decreased, increasing again in 24 hours. Animals used as active control which received non-paired photic and electric stimuli, exhibited opposite changes of AChE activity.     

Conductance-based refractory density model of primary visual cortex

A layered continual population model of primary visual cortex has been constructed, which reproduces a set of experimental data, including postsynaptic responses of single neurons on extracellular electric stimulation and spatially distributed activity patterns in response to visual stimulation. In the model, synaptically interacting excitatory and inhibitory neuronal populations are described by a conductance-based refractory density approach. Populations of two-compartment excitatory and inhibitory neurons in cortical layers 2/3 and 4 are distributed in the 2-d cortical space and connected by AMPA, NMDA and GABA type synapses. The external connections are pinwheel-like, according to the orientation of a stimulus. Intracortical connections are isotropic local and patchy between neurons with similar orientations. The model proposes better temporal resolution and more detailed elaboration than conventional mean-field models. In comparison to large network simulations, it excludes a posteriori statistical data manipulation and provides better computational efficiency and minimal parametrization.