FICTIVE VOCALIZATION IN THE CAT

A new animal model is described for the study of fictive vocalization, evoked by electrical stimulation of the periaqueductal grey (FAG) in decerebrate, paralyzed and artificially ventilated cats. Changes in ac tivities of the phrenic, abdominal, recurrent and superior laryngeal n erves induced by FAG stimulation after induction of paralysis were com pared with the activities of these nerves or the muscles innervated by them during actual vocalization induced before paralysis. The FAG-ind uced respiratory and laryngeal motor pattern in paralyzed cats is simi lar to that of FAG-induced vocalization. Furthermore, the switch from inspiration to vocal-like activity is usually synchronized with lung i nflation in both paradigms. It is concluded that fictive vocalization can be induced by FAG stimulation in paralyzed cats.