Motor effects of globus pallidus stimulation in the rat: lesions to corticofugal fibers block the motor effects

Abstract

Unilateral electrical stimulation of the globus pallidus (GP) in anesthetized male rats was used to determine the nature of the activity driven in muscles of the neck and shoulder by GP output. In 6 groups of animals stimulation was coupled with lesions to sites that interrupted corticofugal fibers or GP output. Interruption of corticofugal fibers blocked the driven activity while lesions that compromised GP output left the activity unaffected.