[Modulation of the basal forebrain neural activity related to efficiency of reaching for food movements in rat]

In the course of learning, single unit activity of basal forebrain neurons was recorded in freely moving rats. Modulation of the neural activity related to efficiency of reaching for food movements was observed between a 40% of the recorded neurons. The firing-rate of such neurons increased during retrieval of the food. Conversely, the activity of these neurons decreased or did not change during unsuccessful movements. In the most neurons (57.1%) the modulation of the activity was observed at the second half of time interval of the movement, but before finishing its. Some neurons (35.7%) changed their activity after the movements.