title: Activity of neurons in the caudate and putamen during a visuomotor task.
abstract: Evidence supporting a role of the caudate and putamen nuclei in associative learning is present. We recorded the activity of 21 caudate and 26 putamen cells in one macaque monkey while performing a visuomotor task, which involved a visual stimulus and the execution of a motor response. Ninety-one percent of caudate cells and 65% of putamen cells showed changes in activity while the monkey was performing the task. Approximately half of the caudate cells and one third of the putamen cells showed changes in activity without a motor response. Our results show that caudate and putamen cells are activated regardless of the presence or absence of a motor action. These findings are consistent with the idea that these nuclei may play a role in associative learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. fsmela@usc.es
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bermudez
authors.forename: Ana F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011699:Putamen / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*