Multiple response to photic stimulation in cats

¹ Laboratories of Neurophysiology and Clinical Science, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

This study was carried out in order to compare the multiple cortical response to a photic stimulus and the secondary response to sciatic nerve stimulation. Late responses to flash and to sciatic nerve shock were recorded in acute cat preparations anesthetized with pentobarbital. The responses to the two types of stimuli differed in distribution (visual multiple response confined to primary receiving area, sciatic secondary generalized), form and anesthetic level optimal for their production (deeper anesthesia for the sciatic secondary than for the visual multiple response). In cats with chronically implanted electrodes, it was found that the multiple response to flash was present during natural sleep and was abolished by arousal.