[Reactions of reticular formation neurons in the rat during functional suppression of the cortical representation of the extremity stimulated].

Responses of single neurons of the reticular formation were studied in the unanaesthetized immobilized rats. Local cooling of the cortical sensory representation of the stimulated forepaw evoked reversible changes in the responses of most studied units (60 of 86) in different nuclei of the reticular formation. The responses of 25 cells changed only during stimulation of the paw the sensory cortex of which was cooled. The changes of the other unit responses to the same stimulus were more strong (in 13 neurons) or almost equal (in 22 neurons) to the changes in responses to the stimulation of the another paw the sensory projection of which was not cooled. The data suggest that local alteration of the signal transfer in the cortex changes the conditions for the transfer of the same signal in the reticular formation.