A brain stem circuit integrating reflexive and anticipatory salivation

Key Points

• Investigates how specific neurons in the brain stem regulate both reflexive and anticipatory salivation.
• Identified ChAT-expressing neurons in the reticular formation.
• Examined responsiveness to mechanosensory and gustatory stimuli.
• Analyzed interactions between salivatory neurons and gustatory cortex input.
• Salivatory neurons showed a response to taste and mechanical stimulation.
• Local taste input and signals from the gustatory cortex influence salivatory reactions.
• Gustatory cortex involvement was significant during Pavlovian conditioning related to salivation.