Possible mechanisms of the anterior limbic cortex influence on the neuron activity of the vago-solitary complex

In ananesthetized cats, neurons of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMNV) revealed phasic excitatory responses to separate single vagal and cortical stimuli. Stimulation of the anterior limbic cortex combined with vagal stimulation resulted in inhibitory or excitatory modification of the vagal induced responses of the NTS and DMNV neurons. The data obtained suggest that complete inhibitory effects are related to general cortical mechanisms of control of the functional state of the brain stem visceral neurons. Selective inhibition of the vagal induced responses by limbic cortex stimulation is due to particular cortical mechanisms of the visceral sensory transmission control via the NTS neurons.