[Reactions of neurons of the motor cortex of the cat to acoustic stimulation and their role in the performance of an instrumental alimentary reflex].

Neuronal reactions evoked in the motor cortex by single and series of sound clicks were studied in trained and untrained cats in chronic experiments. Presentation of conditional stimuli (single sound click) led to appearance of instrumental conditional movement for 7s after the conditioning. At the same time neuronal reaction to conditional sound stimulus did not influence neuronal activity directly connected with instrumental movements. Neuronal reactions to conditional stimuli did not prevent instrumental reflex. They carried out motor function during unconditional defense reaction which appeared in response to acoustic stimuli. Presence or absence of reactions to acoustic conditional stimuli depended on signal significance of stimuli, their physical parameters and level of excitability of the animal.