Formation of the conditioned reflexes to a complex signal in ontogenesis under alternate choice conditions

The formation of a conditioned reflex to a complex signal, "light + sound," and its components under alternate choice conditions was studied in kittens aged 1.5-10 months. A preference for one of the food dispensers and a low percent of correct reactions (48-57%) was characteristic during the process of training for kittens aged from 1.5 to 5 months. Successful training using the alternate choice method was achieved in kittens whose training began at six months of age. A lesion of the sensorimotor region of the cortex in the same kittens following the achievement of a high level of correct reactions (75-80%) led to a disturbance in the previously developed reflex to the complex signal and its components. The latter was expressed in the manifestation of unidirectional motoric reactions and a sharp decrease in the percent of correct reactions. The question of the confinement of the development of different forms of interaction of the sensory and motor systems to specific age periods and the participation in this process of the sensorimotor region of the cortex is discussed.