[The interneuronal functional connections in the sensorimotor cortex of dogs]

Multiunit activity of sensorimotor cortex was recorded from chronically implanted semi-microelectrodes in two dogs. Functional interneuronal connections between neuronal spike trains of 6-8 neurons selected from background multiunit activity were studied by the method of cross-correlation analysis. Bin widths 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and further up to 40 ms by step of 1 ms were used. The cross-interval connections were characterized by complete absence of the shared input (central symmetrical peaks) and signs of inhibitory interrelations. The temporal interrelations between selected neurons were characterized by unilateral and bilateral non-symmetrical excitatory connections--ultra-narrow peaks with short (1-10 ms), middle (10-80 ms) and long (80-2000 ms) delays. The existence of such ultra-narrow peaks contradicts "classical" conceptions on the character of cross-interval connections based on model experiments on simple nervous systems. We suppose that special mechanism of synchronization with high temporal accuracy exists in the cortex.