Reactions of cat caudate nucleus neurons to cortical stimulation before and after destruction of nonspecific thalamic nuclei

In experiments on immobilized cats extracellular responses of caudate nucleus neurons were recorded during electrical stimulation of anterior sigmoideus and suprasylvius gyri. In the first set of experiments performed on cats with an intact thalamus the responses to stimulation of both cortical areas represented initial excitation (sometimes absent) followed by inhibition and late activation. Some qualitative and quantitative differences in the neuronal responses to stimulation of these cortical areas were found. The second set of experiments was performed on cats with preliminary destroyed unspecific thalamic nuclei. Changes were observed only in time course of late caudate neuronal responses.