INFLUENCE OF INCREASED TEMPERATURE ON ACTIVITY OF THE CEREBRAL CORTEX
- 30 September 1949
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physiological Society in American Journal of Physiology-Legacy Content
- Vol. 159 (1) , 1-5
- https://doi.org/10.1152/ajplegacy.1949.159.1.1
Abstract
The exposed cortex of anesthetized cats was heated with an infra-red lamp and the temp. of the cortex, its action potentials and the reactivity of the motor cortex to electrical stimulation (indicated by the amplitude of the EMG of one or several muscles) were recorded. It was found that with increased temp. (above 45[degree]C) dial potentials disappear and are replaced by smaller and more frequent potentials (excitation). On cooling, the original pattern of the ECG is restored. On further heating the amplitude of the potentials decreases in proportion to the degree and duration of heating. Heating to 46[degree]C for 30 min. may be tolerated without change in threshold of the motor cortex. Even heating to 50[degree] does not abolish cortical activity but raises the threshold of the motor cortex to electrical stimulation and leads to a partial loss in electrical activity as indicated by a decrease in amplitude of the ECG. It is suggested that theneurons which are relatively thermosensitive are those showing a low threshold to electrical stimulation.Keywords
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