[Collective behavior of cortical neurons upon long-term reinforcement]

The differential equation describing behaviour of a large ensemble of cortical cells under the extended action of positive or negative reinforcement is derived. The equation is based on the concept that the reinforcement changes synaptic effectiveness in the learning process and a sign of this change depends on an average pulse frequency of a presynaptic neuron and a reinforcement sign. This equation turns out to be identical to the equation which was derived by us earlier based on the ideas that the reinforcement influences on a threshold of neuronal excitation. The comparison of the equation solution with our experimental data lends support for the solution and enables to believe that the serotoninergic system of the brain is a terminal link of the positive reinforcement system and that the noradrenalinergic one is a terminal link of the negative reinforcement.