[Responses of the primary somatosensory cortex to rhythmic stimulation of the vibrissae in the cat].

Extracellular and intracellular responses of cortical neurons localized in SI cortex to repetitive mechanical stimulation of vibrissae were studied in unanesthetized immobilized cats. Spike responses of neurons to stimulation of vibrissae could reproduce somewhat higher frequencies than those in response to electrical stimulation of the infraorbital nerve. An increase in frequency of vibrissae stimulation led to a limitation of peripheral receptive fields. Cortical neurons being able to reproduce relatively high frequencies of vibrissae stimulation and having a tendency to bursting activity were found; correlation between the pattern of discharges in such neurons and IPSPs in other cortical neurons makes it possible to regard such bursting neurons as inhibitory ones. Interaction between excitatory and inhibitory processes in cortical neurons during repetitive vibrissae stimulation is discussed.