Effect of Stimulation of Vagal and Radial Nerves on Neuronal Activity in the Basal Forebrain Area of Anaesthetized Cats

The effects of vagal and radial stimulation on neuronal activity in the basal forebrain area (BFA) of chloralose-anaesthetized cats were studied. Sixty-five neurones were examined from 29 points of BFA. The observed neurones were divided into four groups according to spike amplitudes and spontaneous firing rates. Most of the cells responded with a short latency (10-15 ms) excitation-inhibition sequence, but the pattern and parameters of the responses changed with the cell groups and stimulus types. The results indicate that the BFA neurones receive both excitatory and inhibitory inputs from the visceral and cutaneous receptors.