Dynamics of habituation in different cortical regions of the cat brain

Abstract

The dynamics of habituation in the rostral part of the parietal association region and also in the first and second somatosensory areas was studied by the evoked potentials (EP) method in cats anesthetized with chloralose (80-90 mg/kg) and immobilized with flaxedil. During repeated stimulation of the splanchnic nerve brief habituation of EP developed in the cortex. It corresponded in its basic features to habituation observed in other sensory systems. On comparison of the rates of development of habituation in the primary and secondary projection zones of the splanchnic nerve in the cortex differences were found: habituation developed more rapidly in the secondary projection zones. The functional importance of this phenomenon is discussed.