Involvement of glutamatergic intracortical connections in conditioned reflex activity

The influence of iontophoretic application of glutamate and its blockers on the impulse activity of neurons of the sensorimotor cortex, associated with conditioned reflex activity, was investigated in chronic experiments on trained cats. It was established that in many neurons glutamate promoted an intensification of the impulse reactions to the conditioned stimulus. This intensification arose directly during the application of glutamate, several seconds after it was begun, and was maintained for 5–10 min after iontophoresis ceased. Similar inhibiting effects on neuronal reactions were demonstrated for 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid, kinurenate, and ketamine. It was concluded that under natural conditions of functioning or the performance of acquired reactions, facilitation of intracortical interneuronal glutamatergic connections, providing for increased readiness of the neocortex for subsequent reactions, is systematically maintained in the cerebral cortex through the NMDA receptors. During the reactions the glutamatergic connections are intensively activated and participate negligibly in the organization of the background activity of the neurons.