title: The role of the substantia nigra in cognitive activity in cats.
abstract: The role of the substantia nigra in cognitive processes of different levels of complexity was studied using an original method. Neurosurgical or neurochemical exclusion of the substantia nigra in cats led to significant impairment of conditioned reflex activity, generalization and abstraction processes; these recovered with pharmacological treatment directed to the dopaminergic system, with partial recovery after treatment directed to the GABAergic and cholinergic systems. Treatment directed to the serotoninergic system was ineffective.
authors.affiliation: Science Research Institute of the Brain, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 5 Obukh Lane, 103064 Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Mukhin
authors.forename: Yu K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Mukhina
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Nabieva
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine