McCormick D A, Thompson R F
J Neurosci. 1984 Nov;4(11):2811-22. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.04-11-02811.1984.
Neuronal activity was recorded from regions of the cerebellar cortex and dentate-interpositus nuclei during learning and/or performance of a classically conditioned nictitating membrane (NM-a third eyelid)/eyeblink response in the rabbit. It was found that neurons located within restricted portions of the ansiform lobule and anterior lobe cortical regions and of the dentate-interpositus nuclei respond in relation to the performance of the learned eyeblink response. Furthermore, chronic recordings from the dentate-interpositus nuclei revealed that these responses develop in close relation to the learning of the conditioned eyeblink response. Stimulation of the dentate-interpositus nuclei through the recording electrodes in some cases yielded eyelid closure and NM extension in both trained and untrained animals. Lesion of the axons of the dentate-interpositus nuclei (superior cerebellar peduncle), a manipulation which is known to abolish the learned eyeblink response, abolished the stimulation effect. We have previously reported that lesions of the dentate-interpositus nuclei cause abolition of the learned eyeblink response. In the present study, we report that lesions of the regions of cerebellar cortex projecting to the dentate-interpositus nuclei do not permanently abolish the conditioned response, although the amplitude-time course of the learned response could be affected. These results, together with results of other studies, demonstrate that the medial dentate and/or lateral interpositus nuclei are active during learning and performance of the conditioned eyeblink response, are capable of producing this learned response, and are essential for the learning and retention of the conditioned eyeblink response. Therefore, the medial dentate and/or lateral interpositus nuclei are a part of the essential neuronal circuit involved in the learning and production of the classically conditioned eyeblink response in the rabbit.
在兔子进行经典条件性瞬膜（NM - 第三眼睑）/眨眼反应的学习和/或执行过程中，从小脑皮质区域和齿状 - 间位核记录神经元活动。发现位于袢状小叶和前叶皮质区域以及齿状 - 间位核的受限部分内的神经元，其反应与习得的眨眼反应的执行有关。此外，对齿状 - 间位核的长期记录显示，这些反应的发展与条件性眨眼反应的学习密切相关。在某些情况下，通过记录电极刺激齿状 - 间位核，在训练和未训练的动物中均产生眼睑闭合和瞬膜伸展。齿状 - 间位核（上小脑脚）轴突的损伤，这一操作已知会消除习得的眨眼反应，也消除了刺激效应。我们之前曾报道齿状 - 间位核的损伤会导致习得的眨眼反应消失。在本研究中，我们报告投射到齿状 - 间位核的小脑皮质区域的损伤不会永久消除条件反应，尽管习得反应的幅度 - 时间进程可能会受到影响。这些结果与其他研究结果一起表明，内侧齿状核和/或外侧间位核在条件性眨眼反应的学习和执行过程中是活跃的，能够产生这种习得反应，并且对于条件性眨眼反应的学习和保持至关重要。因此，内侧齿状核和/或外侧间位核是参与兔子经典条件性眨眼反应学习和产生的基本神经回路的一部分。
