Extracellular unit responses in the pulvinar-lateral posterior complex of the cat through electrical stimulation of substantia nigra reticulata and lateralis.

Extracellular single-unit responses of neurons in the ipsilateral pulvinar-lateral posterior complex were recorded in 10 encéphale isolé cats with stimulating electrodes implanted in the substantia nigra pars reticulata and pars lateralis. Fifteen percent of 101 pulvinar-lateral posterior complex thalamic neurons increased their spike discharges when the substantia nigra was stimulated and none decreased its activity. The excitatory effect of this stimulation is discussed in relation to the eventual excitatory or inhibitory character of the efferent projection from the substantia nigra pars reticulata and lateralis to the pulvinar-lateral posterior complex.