[Participation of thalamic relay nuclei in the genesis of barbiturate spindle-like activity].

The specific relay ventro-postero-lateral nucleus (VPL) of the thalamus was electrocoagulated in cats with the view of studying its role in the genesis of the barbituric spindle activity in the cortical projection zone on the side of ablation. It was shown that the specific nuclei, although of considerable importance to the spindle modulation of the potentials, are not its only source. Involved in modulation is also the nonspecific thalamo-cortical system acting along the pathways independent of the specific system. The leading role in the genesis of reaction of rhythmic slow after-effect, which is a variety of spindles, belongs to the specific thalamo-cortical system.