Summary: Temporary cerebral ischemia (15 min) pro duced by "four-vessel occlusion" in the rat causes neu rological disorders, changes in behavior (locomotor hy peractivity), and neuronal damage in the neocortex, stri atum, and especially the CAl zone of the hippocampus. We have studied the effects of two calcium overload blockers, flunarizine (50 mg/kg p.o. twice a day) and cin narizine (100 mg/kg p.o. twice a day), on these alter ations. Cinnarizine markedly improved the functional ab normalities of ischemia but had little or no effect upon the neuronal damage. In contrast, flunarizine provided far greater neuronal protection but with less obvious effects