Neuromediators in the neuronal mechanisms for attention and the perception of visual information during food-seeking behavior.

Neurons of the visual cortex were investigated in experiments with cats during the expectation of and at the time of milk presentation in a feeder. The milk was delivered either as a result of the animal pressing a pedal or extraneously, without pressing. It was determined that the presence of the directed visual attention of the animal towards the site of reinforcement appearing after pedal pressing is accompanied by an increase in the level of the impulse activity of individual neurons. The activation of cortical neurons at the time of the perception of the appearance of milk in the feeder was also pronounced in cases of expected reinforcement. The neuromediators tended to alter the discharge activity of individual neurons in both experimental situations.