[Reaction of caudate nucleus neurons to direct stimulation].

Extracellular recording from the caudate nucleus neurons were performed in experiments on immobilized cats during electrical stimulation of different parts of the same nucleus. Latencies varied from 3.5 to 40 msec. Most neurons could be excited by stimulation of the most rostral part of the caudate nucleus head. In most cases responses were independent of the stimulation place. The responses consisted of one or rarely two spike followed by inhibition of background activity. Then activity gradually restored without rebound. Afterdischarges were not observed. The caudate neurons hardly reproduced stimulating frequencies more than 30 per second and retained in most cases their own frequency level (on the average 5-15 spikes/sec.). The results are discussed in connection with participation of the caudate nucleus in the origin of spindle activity.