[Synaptic mechanisms of the effect of subcortical structures on motor neurons of the facial nerve in the cat].

Peculiarities of synaptic processes in motoneurons of the facial nucleus evoked by stimulation of the head of caudate nucleus, globus pallidus and nucleus amygdalae centralis were studied in acute experiments on cats by means of intracellular recording technique. It is found that stimulation of the first two structures causes only polysynaptic excitation, while stimulation of the nucleus amygdalae centralis--mono- and polysynaptic excitation of motoneurons of the facial nucleus. Convergence of influences from above mentioned structures on the same motoneurons is shown. Possible ways and mechanisms of subcortical regulation of the activity of facial nucleus motoneurons are discussed.