Reflection of the systemic mechanisms of instrumental behavior in the activity of brain neurons.

Changes in the impulse activity of neurons of the sensorimotor, parietal associative, and visual areas of the cerebral cortex were studied during the performance of conditioned instrumental alimentary behavior by an animal. Comparative analysis of impulse activity of the neurons investigated showed that 71.4% of the cells of the parietal associative area of the cerebral cortex were activated when the conditional stimulus was turned on; 75.8% of neurons of the visual cortex were activated when the animal pressed the pedal; 82.5% of the cells of the somatosensory and 75.8% of the visual area of the cerebral cortex increased activity upon appearance of milk in the food dispenser. During lapping of the milk, 75.8% of cells of the visual cortex showed reduction of activity. Reorganization of the impulse activity of individual neurons of the cerebral cortex reflected the unfolding of pretriggering integration formed as the result of preliminary training of the animal. The character of the impulse activity of the neurons investigated at the stage of realization of the program of the action and obtaining of reinforcement was determined primarily by the streams of afferent excitations arising during the perception of parameters of the stage-related and final results of the behavior.