[Frontal-hypothalamic interaction in cats in the realization of a free choice of reinforcement]

In experiments with four cats instrumental delayed responses with a reinforcement of different quality were elaborated by the method of "active choice" the time of delay of the motor reaction serving as a signal of quality of the reinforcement. Individually varying ability to chose the quality of the reinforcement was used for classification of typological properties of cats (self-control and impulsiveness). Multiunit activity was recorded from the motor cortex and the lateral nucleus of the hypothalamus. Analysis of interneuronal connections was made by the cross-correlation method. Identified connections between hypothalamic and motor cortex neurons were found in 13-18% of all the possible connections. The interneuronal cortical-hypothalamic relationships were characterized by temporal delays from 0 to 100 ms. The analogy was found in distribution curves of temporal delays in all the time ranges investigated for the neurons of the hypothalamic-motor coordination in each group of cats in spite of the manifestation of preferred or alternative conditioned reactions. The number of identified connections of hypothalamus-motor cortex coordination with temporal delays up to 30 ms was significantly higher for the cats working in impulsiveness paradigm. At the same time, there were significantly more identified connections of hypothalamus-motor cortex coordination with temporal delays of 60-100 ms in cats demonstrating self-control. The question is discussed on the role of the hypothalamus-motor cortex relationships in the choice of behaviour strategy and typological characteristics of cats.