PHASIC ACTIVITY IN THE AUDITORY PAHTWAY DURING PARADOXICAL SLEEP OR INDUCED BY RESERPINE

Resumen

Phasic activity, frequently called ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) activity, is commonly recorded from different areas of the brain during paradoxical sleep or following reserpine administration. In this study, phasic activity was recorded from the auditory cortex, the medial geniculate body, and the dorsal and ventral cochlear nuclei of chronically implanted cats under both of these conditions. The results suggest that the activity from the auditory structures might be part of a more complex functional organization which includes the visual and oculomotor systems already described by other authors. Due to the broad distribution of phasic activity found over the brain, it is proposed that the term paradoxical sleep phasic activity replace that of PGO activity.