[Relay levels of acoustic and tactile startle reflexes in the reticular formation of the cat]

Abstract

Reticular mechanisms of startle reflexes evoked by acoustic and tactile stimulation were studied in cat anesthetized with chloralose. Marked similarity in changes of both reflexes following surgical lesions and reversible hydrocompression blockade of the medial brain stem reticular formation structures were found. The data obtained evidenced for similarity of reticular substrates of these nonnociceptive reflexes (the pontine reticular formation, especially nucleus reticularis, pontis caudalis) in contrast to nociceptive spino-bulbo-spinal startle reflexes relayed mainly over the bulbar reticular formation.