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Abstract
The effects of iontophoretically administered acetylcholine (ACH) on the activity of single lateral (LG) and medial (MG) geniculate neurons were compared. Spontaneous activities, orthodromic and antidromic activities and I-glutamate activation were studied. Orthodromic activity was generated by stimulation of the optic neuron, or flashes, or stimulation of the inferior colliculus, or clicks respectively. ACH increased the firing rate of neurons having low-frequency spontaneous activity and inhibited the spiking of neurons having high-frequency firing rate. The effects of ACH on the activity of LG neurons was prevalently excitatory, arid on the MG neurons prevalently depressant. Ascending transmission of visual impulses seemed to involve cholinoceptive processes, ascending transmission of auditory impulses occurred in the MG neurons without involvement of cholinoceptive processes. In most instances ACH acted as a modulator. The results offer a partial explanation for the preferential use of imagery as the dream language.
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Notes on contributors
Clara Torda
Joyce Laing works in the Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, Playfield House, Cupar, Fife, and is a Consultant Art Therapist to Psychiatric Hospitals and Prisons and Chairwoman of the Scottish Society of Art and Psychology.