Responses of striatal neurons in the behaving monkey. 1. Head of the caudate nucleus

摘要: Abstract The activity of 394 neurons in the head caudate nucleus and most anterior part putamen was analyzed 3 behaving rhesus monkeys order to analyze functions this striatum. Of these neurons, 64.2% responded tests used relation to, for example, environmental events, movements made by monkey, performance a visual discrimination, or during feeding. However, only relatively small proportions had responses which were unconditionally related (9.6%), auditory (3.5%), gustatory (0.5%) stimuli, (4.1%). Instead, majority responsive stimuli conditional, that occurred some test situations, often dependent on task monkeys. Thus, it found discrimination 14.5% 0.5 sec tone/light cue period signalled start each trial; 31.1% discriminative shown, with 24.3% responding more either stimulus signified food reward punishment; 6.2% lick responses. Yet typically did not respond movements, when independently task, prevented. Comparably, tested feeding, 25.8% seen he tasted it, 22.4% given experimenter non-food object about be presented. few same presented different situations. It is concluded many events are as cues prepare tasks, including must initiated. Other tasks. do have unconditional sensory motor therefore suggested neostriatum contains neuronal mechanisms important process preparation behavioral responses, initiation particular situations stimuli. Deficits following damage striatal pathways may arise because interference neostriatum.