[Response of limbic cortex neurons of the alert cat during elaboration of a defensive conditioned reflex].

Neuronal impulse activity in the limbic cortex was studied in cats during defensive conditioning. The number of neurons, their ability to take part in the conditional reflex correlated with the duration of the sound stimuli. Only 5.3% neurons in area 24 and 14.1% neurons in area 32 responded to sound click in untrained cats. Activity of 37.5% neurons in area 24 and 43.8% in area 32 correlated with 500 ms sound and 47.4% in area 32 with 1000 ms sound. Latencies of these responses were from 15 to 50 ms, their duration was up to 500 ms. Activity of 95.1% neurons in area 24 and 83% in area 32 correlated with electrical cutaneous stimulation. Latencies of these reactions were 15 ms, their duration was from 200 ms to 2.5 s. After training 33.3% neurons increased reactions to sound stimuli, produced reactions to cutaneous stimulation, increased background activity. The activity of 13.3% neurons decreased after training. It is assumed that the limbic cortex is involved in the identification of conditional signals. The neurons of the limbic cortex take an active part in the formation of the period before the reinforcement.