[Conditioned responses of striopallidal system neurons to time]

The study was concerned with conditioned responses to time, elaborated in alert rabbits through pairing of sound stimuli with electro-cutaneous reinforcement, applied each 30 s. Conditioned responses to time were observed in 60% of neurones of the caudate nucleus, in 55% of neurones of the putamen and 59% of cells of the pale globe. Trace conditioned responses occured first in neurones of the putamen and of the pale globe and then of the caudate nucleus. No significant correlation between initial unit reactivity to the stimuli of paired modalities and their ability for elaboration of temporary connections was revealed. Conditioned responses to time were also found in 42-61% of the initially areactive units. Individual characteristics of formation and reproduction of trace activity in each of the studied brain structures are due to its structural-functional organization.