[The effect of moderate doses of ethanol on the evoked neuronal activity of the sensorimotor cortex]

Influence of acute administration of ethanol in moderate doses (170-1200 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) on the evoked activity of sensorimotor cortical neurons in response to electrical stimulation of the contralateral forelimb was studied in outbred rats never earlier exposed to ethanol action. During the first 20-25 min of ethanol action whether augmentation or attenuation in the level of neuronal reactivity could occur as well which in both cases could be accompanied by significant variability of latencies in poststimulus discharges and destabilization of their patterns. Expressed modifications in neuronal patterns at the first stage of ethanol action suggest that ethanol destabilizes evoked reactions of sensorimotor cortical neurons to afferent stimulation. This underlines the need for more complete approach to investigation of primary CNS reactions to ethanol paying more attention to temporal succession of origin and flow of these effects. Possible relations between oppositely directed primary reactions of single cortical neurons and individual characteristics of perception of different animals are discussed.