[Visually guided movement in the cat: difference in the effects of a bilateral lesion of the thalamic nucleus ventralis lateralis performed either before or after training].

Bilatéral lesions of the thalamic nucleus ventralis lateralis were performed in cats, either after [1] or before [2] training to reach a moving target with the forepaw. In situation [1], lesions were ineffective; in situation [2] the animal never reached normal scores. VL thus seems to be essential only in the acquisition phase of the tested visuomotor performance.