Learning in functionally decorticate state and its transfer to normal state.

Abstract

Using unilateral spreading depression interhemispheric transfer of an active avoidance reaction was studied to rats with 4 avoidance tasks differing from each other to degree of difficulty. Transfer was found in 2 easier experimental tasks. It was also demonstrated that the simple avoidance reaction may be stored in the memory without the participation of the neocortex and may be transferred to a normal state of 1 hemisphere. It is concluded that the determined "interhemispheric transfer" is due to subcortical memory traces formed on the impaired side without participation of the neocortex.