Modification of the direct cortical response by taurine

The effects of taurine on the direct cortical response have been studied in immobilized cats (with local analgesia). The primary negative component of the response was inverted in polarity by the topical application of 25 mM taurine while the later slow negative component was considerably augmented. These effects are identical to those observed with 25 mM GABA. Pentobarbital anesthesia produced little qualitative change in the effects of taurine. With stronger stimuli in the presence of taurine, rhythmic waves followed each stimulus both at the cortical surface and at a depth of 1000 mum. An increase in the EEG amplitude following topical taurine was generally localized to the cortical surface but in certain experiments, could be recorded at cortical depths up to 1000 mum.