Evoked electrical responses of nucleus lateralis posterior of the rabbit thalamus and their dependence upon the functional state of the cortex and reticular formation.

The electrical responses of the thalamic pulvinar (of its analogue, the nucleus lateralis posterior (nLP)) to light stimuli of various intensity were recorded in awake rabbits, and their interrelationships with the responses of the retina, superior colliculi, and visual cortex were analyzed. It is postulated that a major role in the afferent supply of the rabbit nLP belongs to the optic track and the superior colliculi. The presence was demonstrated of a highly organized analyzer of the reticular control of nLP function that is of a facilitatory character. The most important role in reticular influence belongs to its adrenoresponsive mechanism. An inhibitory influence was demonstrated for the visual and sensorimotor regions of the cerebral cortex on the nLP neuronal apparatus producing responses to light stimuli. The influence of the visual cortex are the most pronounced and stable.