[The frontal-motor interneuronal interactions in cats realizing a free choice of reinforcement]

Abstract

Instrumental delayed reflexes with reinforcement of different quality were elaborated in six cats by the method of "active choice", where the time of delay of the motor reaction served as a signal of quality of the reinforcement. Individually varying ability to choose the quality of the reinforcement was used for classification of typological features of cats (self-control and impulsiveness). Multiunit activity was recorded by nichrome semimicroelectrodes from the frontal and motor cortical areas. Crosscorrelation analysis of interneuronal connections was carried out. The interneuronal frontal-motor relationships with different temporal delays (0-30; 30-60; 60-100 ms) were equally manifested in both groups of cats. We suggested that the organization of the frontal-motor relations did not characterize the individual typological features of the cats. During short-delayed reflexes in cats of both groups the identified functional connections with delays 0-30 ms were more significant. The question is discussed on the role of the frontal-motor coordination in definition of the kind of behaviour of cats to fulfil either short- or long-delayed conditioned reactions.