[Restoration of instrumental movements in cats after section of spinal cord afferent pathways].

Instrumental fore-leg movements (pedal pressing) were studied in the course of recovery of motor functions after section of the posterior columns and the spino-cervical tract at the cervical level. Recovery of supporting-locomotor functions reached a high level. Instrumental reactions connected with inborn forms of motor activity (running etc.) were being restored parallel to the locomotion restoration. Complex instrumental movements were restored slower and didn't reach a high degree of accuracy. A more simple instrumental movement (pressing on the open pedal) had a more rapid and more complete recovery. It is concluded that the possibilities of substitution of different channels, transmitting afferent somatic impulses to the sensorimotor cortex, are very limited for elaborated instrumental movements.