Neuronal responses are differentially affected by the polarity of tectal DC stimulation in the toad Bufo bufo.
Male toads were tested behaviourally for their prey catching responses to worm-like stimuli before being prepared for visual unit and slow potential shift (SPS) recording from the optic tectum. The neuronal responses of toads to a prey-like visual stimulus reflected their motivational tendency prior to operations. One second of DC stimulation to the tectum was followed by an SPS of reversed polarity during which time a visual prey-like stimulus was presented. A negative SPS following positive DC stimulation was associated with enhanced neuronal responses to a visual stimulus. The positive SPS that followed negative stimulation was associated with a decline in neural responses below background when a visual stimulus was additionally given. The SPS was largely a result of DC stimulation that interacted with the motivational tendency to produce enhanced neuronal responses, while the potential was negative and vice versa.
Sterritt
Lorraine
L
School of Biology and Biochemistry, Medical Biology Centre, Queens University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
Laming
Gillian
G
Laming
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D002023:Bufo bufo / Q000502:physiology*; D016764:Cell Polarity; D004566:Electrodes; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation