[Participation of the visual projection and association cortical inputs in the formation of responses of neostriatal responses to visual stimuli in the alert cat].

Extracellular responses of caudate neurons to local light stimuli and to electrical stimulation of specific (area 17) and associative (the Clare-Bishop area) cortical zones were studied in awake cats. Stimulation of the Clare-Bishop area was found to be more effective for caudate cell responses in comparison with stimulation of area 17; it influenced more caudate cells (47%), whereas responses to area 17 stimulation occurred only in 8% of investigated cells. The mean latency values also were lower in the first case. Only a few neurons responded to stimulation of the both areas. Responses to visual stimuli and to electrical stimulation of these cortical areas were compared in the same caudate cells. Neurons which responded to visual stimuli were also better activated by the Clare-Bishop stimulation than by stimulation of area 17. Such cells were distributed preferably in the body of caudate nucleus. The possible role of the Clare-Bishop area in transmission of visual information to neostriatum is discussed.