Automated Food-Procuring Movement-Related Neuronal Activity in the Basolateral Amygdala of the Rat

We studied the impulse activity of neurons of the basal and lateral amygdalar nuclei generated when experimental animals (rats) performed fast stereotyped food-procuring movements by the forelimb. Within the basolateral amygdala, there are neurons whose activity is related to different stages of getting off the food, and according to the characteristics of their spiking these neurons should be divided into a number of subpopulations. Activation forestalling the movement initiation by 0.5-1.0 sec was observed in most neurons of the basolateral amygdala; this is considered a manifestation of excitation related to a motivation component of the food-procuring behavior. Activation of amygdalar neurons following movement initiation can result from generation in this structure of additional excitation necessary for successful performance of a complete food-procuring motor cycle.     

New sharks of the genus Abdounia (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) from the Upper Eocene of the Trans-Ural Region

Two new species of carcharhinid sharks from the Late Eocene deposits (Tavda Formation) of the southern Trans-Urals, Abdounia vassilyevae sp. nov., previously determined as A. aff. beaugei, and A. lata sp. nov., are described. To date, up to five Priabonian species of Abdounia have been recorded. New finds supplement the data on diversity, evolution, and paleobiogeography of Abdounia.