Electrophysiological correlates of the behavioral effects of tubocurarine in conscious cats.

The effects of tubocurarine on behavior, electrical activity, and auditory evoked potentials were studied in restrained conscious cats. Tubocurarine hydrochloride (doses of 0.05--1 micrograms intraventricularly) produced various central stimulatory effects characterized by EEG desynchronization, decrease in both low (7--9 Hz) and high (10--14 Hz) alpha waves, and decrease in the amplitude and area of the surface positive (P1) wave of auditory evoked potentials. Concomitant with the alterations in brain electrical activity tubocurarine hydrochloride produced generalized behavioral arousal phenomena and the cats became restless and exhibited miaowing and increased movement of the head and ears. Almost all parameters except behavior showed a distinct dose-response relationship. A correlation between the behavioral effects and the EEG analog was thus demonstrated.