In experiments on five awake cats, we studied the effects of bemitil, a drug possessing psychostimulatory, antidepressive, and actoprotector properties (peroral introduction, 50 mg/kg), on the activity of neurons of the aminergic cerebral systems. Eleven noradrenergic (NA-ergic) neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC) and 11 serotonergic (ST-ergic) neurons of the nuclei raphe (NR) were examined. A control experimental series was carried out on 8 NA-ergic neurons of the LC and 8 ST-ergic neurons of the NR. Bemitil was found to exert opposite effects on the impulse activity of NA-ergic and ST-ergic brainstem neurons; it suppressed impulsation of LC neurons and increased the spiking frequency of NR neurons within certain time intervals after its introduction. Analysis of EEG showed that bemitil decreased the spectral power of the delta and theta activities, which was accompanied by behavioral relaxation.

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We studied correlations between the frequency of background impulse activity (BIA) of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons of the ventral tegmentum (VT) and spectral power (SP) of the frequency components of EEG samples recorded in awake cats. The EEG was recorded monopolarly (electrodes were fixed in the cranial bones) from the frontal, occipital, and right and left temporal regions of the cortex. In a great majority of the cases, the BIA frequency of VT DA-ergic neurons demonstrated significant positive correlations with changes in the SPs of the alpha and beta EEG rhythms. The closest correlations of the spiking frequency of DA-ergic cells with the SP of the alpha rhythm was observed in the occipital region, while those with the beta SP were found in the frontal area. Correlations of the activity of DA-ergic neurons with the SPs of the alpha and beta rhythms in the left temporal cortical zone were closer, as compared with those in the symmetrical right zone. Correlations of the SPs of the delta, theta, and gamma EEG components with the discharge frequency of VT DA neurons were of opposite directions, and in most cases such correlations did not reach the level of significance. The results of this study show that, in some cases, specific EEG patterns can be considered indicators of the state of the cerebral VT DA-ergic system.

We examined the dynamics of the ratios of spectral power densities (SPDs) of the alpha vs theta rhythms (α/θ ratio)  of EEG and of the spiking frequency of supposedly dopaminergic (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmentum in the course of neurofeedback sessions directed toward changes in the EEG characteristics. Trainings were performed using techniques analogous to that used in neurofeedback sessions in humans. The level of the noise acoustic signal presented to the animal decreased with increase in the α/θ ratio in the occipital leads. In the control realizations, there were no dependences between the intensity of the acoustic signal and modulation of the current EEG. It was found that the animals learned, in a conditioned-reflex mode, to correlate changes in the intensity of the sound signal and power of the EEG rhythms and to control the latter; a high sound intensity was probably considered a factor of discomfort. The α/θ ratio in the course of neurofeedback sessions changed due to some increase in the SPD of the alpha EEG component and a noticeable drop in the SPD of theta oscillations. In a parallel manner with such modifications, augmentation of the spike activity of DA neurons was observed. Probable mechanisms of the involvement of the cerebral DA system in the formation of the effects of neurofeedback sessions are discussed.

In chronic experiments on awake cats, we studied the dynamics of the spectral power density (SPD) of the α rhythm vs SPD of the θ rhythm ratio and also of the characteristics of impulse activity generated by supposedly noradrenergic (NA) neurons of the locus coeruleus in the course of feedback (FB) sessions by EEG characteristics (EEG-FB). Trainings were performed using a technique analogous to that in EEG-FB sessions for humans. The level of a sound noise signal presented to the animal decreased with increase in the α/θ SPD ratio in the occipital lead. Changes in the level of the sound signal did not depend on EEG modulation in the control series. The animals were trained to correlate changes in the loudness of the sound signal with the power of EEG rhythms and, in such a way, to control the latter. The α/θ SPD ratio in EEG-FB sessions changed mostly due to a significant increase in the α rhythm power. The frequency of the impulse activity of NA neurons increased in a parallel manner with such EEG modulation. Possible mechanisms of the involvement of the cerebral NA system in the formation of the effects of EEG-FB sessions are discussed.