[Spike activity of mesencephalic neurons during nociceptive stimulation of the alert cat]

Rate of reorganizations of neuronal impulse activity in the ventromedial parts of the midbrain of alert rats in conditions of nociceptive and non-nociceptive actions is determined by biological value of used stimuli and closely correlates with spontaneous and evoked changes of the motor activity and oscillations of vegetative parameters. The character of reorganizations of discharge activity (activation, inhibition) significantly differs in cells of various types, singled out on the basis of differences of electrophysiological properties and predominantly localized in different parts of the studied brain areas. The revealed characteristics of the functional properties of the neurones are discussed in connection with supposed differences of their neurotransmitter specificity and their role in providing for different chains of adaptive activity of the organism.