Blocks neuron activity parietal cortex monkey brain, connected with achievement of intermediate goals of multistage behavior
Filatova, E.V.; Orlov, A.A.; Afanas'ev, S.V.
Rossiiskii Fiziologicheskii Zhurnal Imeni I.M. Sechenova 100(7): 802-807
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 0869-8139 PMID: 25669105 Document Number: 678054
The single unit activity of the monkey parietal cortex was studied during the task of alternative spatial selection. Simultaneously activities of 6--10 neurons were recorded. It was revealed that tonic impulse activity of parietal cortex neurons forms blocks. The structure of blocks reflects the structure of behavioral task and related to the achievement of interim targets in performing of be- havioral task. Earlier the formation of similar blocks of tonic activity was shown for unit activity of putamen and prefrontal cortex. Thus the data obtained evidence in favor of that grouping of tonic activity is not an individual feature of some structures but has more general character most likely typical and for other brain areas. Generally it shows that nerve control of complex much component behavior is accomplished in segments by formation of separate blocks in neuronal activity. These blocks are related to individual groups of actions which in combination lead to a final goal--performance of behavioral task in a whole. Key words: unit activity, behavior, monkey, parietal cortex.