title: Pulvinar participates in synchronizing neural assemblies in the visual cortex, in cats.
abstract: It has been proposed that the perception of a coherent image necessitates two processes, that is, an ensemble of neurons which synchronizes discharges of individual cells and stimulus-specific gamma-band (gamma) neuronal oscillations which may serve as carrier signals for a temporal code. We tested the hypothesis that cortical gamma-oscillations and synchronization depend upon the interactions between the lateral posterior-pulvinar complex of the thalamus (LP-P) and visual cortex. Local reversible inactivation of the LP-P was achieved by pressure injections of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In the majority of cases the LP-P depression decreased the strength of the synchronization and oscillations. Also, the results demonstrate that the occurrence of stimulus-dependent oscillations and the synchronization of neuronal responses are two distinct processes and consequently they may occur or disappear independently of each other.
authors.affiliation: Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shumikhina
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molotchnikoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks; D002415:Cats; D003344:Cortical Synchronization / Q000187:drug effects*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D020649:Pulvinar / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid