title: Activity of neurons in the cat substantia nigra pars reticulata during drinking.
abstract: Extracellular activity of single neurons in the pars reticulata of the Substantia Nigra (SNpr) was recorded in cats during drinking. Two groups of cells were distinguished: I. Somatosensory cells which responded by a short decrease in firing rate to the arrival of water against the upper lip. We suggest that these stimulus-related responses reflect a complex process linked to preparation of buccolingual movements. II. Action-related cells which were de-activated at the beginning or during the entire drinking period but without modulation in relation to the individual movements of jaws and tongue. We suggest that de-activation of these cells during drinking operates as a gating mechanism which allows implementation of complex motor sequences by cortical and/or subcortical structures.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002415:Cats; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D008046:Lip / Q000294:innervation*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D013016:Sound; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water