[Role of the ventromedial nucleus of the rats thalamus in food-procuring movements].

Abstract

The characteristics of ballistic food-procuring movements were studied in albino rats. After electrolytic destruction of ventromedial nucleus of thalamus (VM) of contralaterally preferred extremity the number of attempts and frequency of movements were determined to increase with a decrease of their duration. The restoration of parametres of movements took place during a week. A phase structure of movements also undergoes some modifications: in the case of invariance of initial ballistic components, conditioned by strict links of programme one-side switching off of VM tells on the following components, subject to correction. Re-teaching, requiring the modification of motor programme caused considerable difficulties in rats with switched off VM. The obtained results illustrate the significance of rats' VM in the formation and realization of motor programmes.