[Characteristics of responses of neurons of the limbic nuclei of the thalamus. Anteroventral and anteromedial nuclei].

Neuronal activity of the limbic thalamic nuclei AV and AM was examined extracellularly in chronic experiments on rabbits. Significant differences of spontaneous and evoked activity were observed. In n. AV, responses to sensory stimuli were predominantly of specific (34%) and phasic (42%) types. Responses to stimuli of various modalities were selective and differentiated, with complex dynamic changes. In n. AM activity was more uniform. In the majority of neurones (81%) sensory stimuli evoked diffuse undifferentiated tonic responses. Habituation was the only prominent dynamic process in this nucleus.