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Cortical steady-potential shifts in conditioning

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Abstract

Cortical steady-potential shifts obtained from nonpolarizing electrodes chronically implanted in freely moving cats and rats reveal cortical activation related to urgency of response to unconditional and conditional stimuli. Such shifts appear relatively independent of activation in the rhythmic electrocorticogram and are related to higher levels of activation. Shifting is found to be modulated by drive and level of learning, suggesting a correlation with the proposed reaction potential of Hull. Both approach and avoidance “urgency” are reflected in the onset slope and amplitude of SP shifts in a manner suggesting modulation of cortical activation by the effects of behavioral regulation of stimulus conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Western Reserve University School of Medicine, USA

    Vernon Rowland, Herbert Bradley, Paul School & Dan Deutschman

Authors
  1. Vernon Rowland
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  2. Herbert Bradley
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  3. Paul School
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  4. Dan Deutschman
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Additional information

Research supported by National Institute of Mental Health, Grants MH 05439 and MH 4731.

Awarded the Pavlovian Medal at the Harvard Meeting of the Pavlovian Society, February 11, 1966.

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Rowland, V., Bradley, H., School, P. et al. Cortical steady-potential shifts in conditioning. Conditional Reflex 2, 3–22 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03034092

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03034092

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