Specificity of visual and motor cortex neurons activity in behavior.
The involvement of the units of visual (VC) and motor cortex (MC) in the systemic behavioral mechanisms is determined by the "environment" and "executive mechanisms of behavior". The unit activity in VC and MC, head and lower jaw movements, EMG of m. masseter and latency of touching the food were recorded. In experiment I the rabbits eyes were covered with occluders that were put on and taken off after every 4-5 repetitions of the behavioral act. It was found that the visual inflow was not necessary for the activations of both MC and VC neurons to appear. The pattern of neuronal activity changed when behavioral act was performed with the eyes closed. These changes following the "visual" influences were more pronounced in the VC. In experiment II the unit activity of both cortical areas was compared during the free head movement towards food and during the movement hampered with the rubber thread. The more pronounced susceptibility of VC neurons to activity changes was demonstrated again, this time after motor influences.
D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000294:innervation; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*