The experimental pathology of higher nervous activity cholinosensitivity as an indicator of functional differences of neurons of the cortex of young and old rabbits

The cholinosensitivity of neurons of the motor cortex of young and old rabbits was studied. It was shown that muscarinic activation in the cells of old animals is encountered half as often than in young animals. The age-related decrease in cholinosensitivity is explained by an insufficiency of the overall activation of neurons in old animals. The change in the functional state of the cells of the motor cortex leads to the fact that the frequency of impulse activity of neurons associated with movement proves to be insufficient for the achievement of effective cortical control of motor functions.Translated from Zhurnal Vysshei Nervnoi Deyatel'nosti imeni I. P. Pavlova, Vol. 41, No. 6, pp. 1222–1230, November–December, 1991.