Evoked potential components in the layers of the auditory cortex of the cat

The intracortical distribution of evoked potentials was studied by seven-contact multielectrodes implanted into the primary auditory cortex of freely moving cats. The aim of the study was to compare the intracortical profiles of the responses evoked by click stimuli and by electrical stimulation of the medial geniculate body in different states of alertness and in Nembutal anesthesia. Only the early surface positive component showed phase reversal in the depth of the cortex. The middle latency components which were faithful indicators of vigilance appeared without phase reversal. Nembutal wiped out these components. A negative component of about 50 ms latency appeared in the attentive animal which had the highest amplitude close to the surface and decreased toward the depth indicating that it was generated in the most superficial layers of the cortex. The stimulation of the last nucleus of the specific auditory pathway elicited evoked potential patterns including also the middle latency components, which were closely similar to those induced by click stimuli.