[The reflection in the neuronal activity of the brain of the systemic mechanisms of instrumental behavior].

Changes of unit activity in the somatosensory, associative, and visual cortical areas were studied in cats during the conditioned operant feeding behaviour. Comparative analysis showed that 71.4% of the neurons in the associative cortical area increased their activity when a conditioned stimulus was switched on; 75.8% of the visual cortex neurons were activated as the cat pressed the lever; 82.5% of the cells in the somatosensory and 75.8% of the cells in the visual cortical areas increased their discharge activity at the moment when milk appeared in the cup; 75.8% of the cells in the visual cortical area lowered their activity during lapping. Reorganization of the discharge activity of the studied neurons reflected the integration that assembled during the preliminary training of the animal. Patterns of spike activity of the cells during the realization of the program of action and achieving the reinforcement were determined by perception of the parameters of the intermediate and end results.