title: Studies in the neurophysiology of learning: X. Phase coherence of brain potentials as index of alertness and orienting response in the rat.
abstract: With use of electrical potentials derived from chronically implanted electrodes in the rat's forebrain to trigger a computer of average transients (CAT), averaged traces were obtained which gave characteristic undulations under conditions of arousal and alertness (N = seven albino rats--six male and one female). Under conditions of extreme adaptation to the environmental condition, the averaged undulations disappeared. The undulations were characterized by a period of 125-150 milliseconds and occurred in trains of .3-.5 second. The parameters of the waves were constant for a variety of novel environmental conditions, but the waves vanished in those conditions that appeared to greatly stress or terrify the rat. The undulations so obtained were conditionable to initially neutral stimuli in both the forward and backward directions.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001887:Boredom; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008474:Medial Forebrain Bundle / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000502:physiology