Abstract
Effects of striatal spreading depression (SSD) on simple operant behavior were studied in pigeons. In 10 Ss, anesthetized with Dial, microinjection of 1.5 [mu]l. or 3 [mu]l. of 25% KC1 into the hyper-stratum accessorium elicited 2.1 or 29 SSD waves and caused depression of surface EEG for 40 or 90 min., respectively. In 10 unanesthetized unrestrained Ss similar microinjection evokes reversible impairment of alimentary behavior for 33 and 87 min. Close correlation was found also between the time course of electrical manifestations and behavioral consequences of SSD. These results show that SSD can be used as a tool to study reversible functional ablation not only of neocortex but also of noncortical structures.

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