Behavioral correlates of evoked activity recorded from association areas of the cerebral cortex.

Abstract

Evoked cortical responses were recorded from association areas of the cortex to auditory, visual, and somatic stimuli in the normal waking cat. Characteristics of the evoked response were in most respects similar to those obtained in the chloralosed animal. Amplitudes of responses evoked by all types of stimuli were significantly decreased during bodily activity and during presentation of a novel stimulus of any modality, but they exhibited no long-term habituation to repeated stimulation. Response amplitudes were inversely related to the degree of the behavioral orienting response. It is suggested that amplitude of the evoked cortical association response is inversely proportional to degree of behavioral "alerting" or "attention.".