Regional differences in the control of neuronal transmission in the lateral geniculate nucleus during conditioning in rats.

Responses of neurons of the dorsal part of lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) to light were recorded before, during and after termination of pairing with electrical tail stimulation in urethane anesthetized rats. Response changes were induced in about 45% of cells studied during conditioning. These changes persisted in 25% of the cells during the extinction period. Cells which changed their response were mainly located in the caudodorsolateral part of the dLGN. Cells with persistent response modulations are mainly of the slow type. The results are discussed in relation to the known difference of afferentation of the dLGN.