Effector pattern of the audio-visual targeting reflex in cats

Abstract

The development of the effector pattern of the unconditioned and instrumental conditioned audio-visual targeting reflex was studied. EOG and EMG electrodes were implanted to analyze the movements of the pinna, eye and head, when the animals localized a sound source placed in different positions in space. When the acoustic stimulus was repeated, the unconditioned targeting reflex was characterized by a rapid intra- and intersessional habituation of the three motor components. In the second part of the experiment the unconditioned targeting reflex was reinforced by food to build up an instrumental conditioned targeting reflex. It was shown, that under both experimental conditions the targeting reflex began with the auricular component, followed by the oculo-cephalic response. After conditioning the latencies were decreased in comparison with the unconditioned reactions. The shortest latencies and most stable responses were found in the pinna muscles ipsilateral to the sound source. After conditioning the resistance to extinction was increased for all three motor components, but the pinna movement ipsilateral to the sound source was again the component most resistant to extinction.