[Primary visual cortex response recovery cycles caused by pharmacologic and electrical effects on the monoaminergic...

The recovery cycles (RC) of primary responses in the visual cortex were studied in alert rats following the electrical stimulation of raphe nuclei and locus coeruleus as well as following pharmacological and complex (electrical and pharmacological) actions on serotonin- and noradrenergic brain systems. It was found that both electrical and pharmacological actions on the above monoaminergic systems reduce the duration and depth of relative non-reactivity phase of RC. Complex (electrical and pharmacological) action leads to heterodirectional changes in RC. The character of these changes reflects the reciprocity existing in functional interrelations between serotonin- and noradrenergic brain systems. The probable connection of the found effects with memory mechanisms is discussed.