ELECTRICAL EXCITABILITY OF HUMAN UNCUS

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Abstract
The electrical excitability of the uncus was investigated in 6 psychotic patients under general anesthesia prior to topectomy. Using a square wave stimulator and employing respiratory inhibition as an indication of excitation, 3 strength-pulse width curves (with frequency constant at 100/sec.) and 3 strength-frequency curves (with pulse width constant at 5.0 msec.) were detd. in different subjects. Alterations of the pulse width or frequency parameters changed the intensity requirements producing respiratory inhibition but did not alter the nature of the response. The strength-pulse width curves for the uncus are essentially similar to strength-pulse width curves previously obtained for the motor cortex; they indicate that the most effective stimuli for eliciting respiratory inhibition from the uncus are those with pulse durations in the range from 2.5-5.0 msec. The strength-frequency curves differ from such curves previously obtained for the motor cortex; the most effective frequencies for eliciting respiratory inhibition from the uncus lie in the range from 30-100/sec. It is concluded that the excitability characteristic of such structurally and functionally different cortical areas as the uncus and motor cortex differ in terms of their intensity-frequency relationships. The uncus can be optimally excited at lower frequencies than the motor cortex.

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