VI. Croonian Lecture.—On the mammalian nervous system, its functions, and their localisation determined by an electrical method

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In the 'Proceedings of the Royal Society,' vol. 45, 1889, p. 18 (Meeting of November 1, 1888), we published a preliminary account of some of the experiments of which the results are now given in full detail. In that communication we stated that the object of our work then was to endeavour to ascertain the character of the excitatory processes occurring in nerve fibres, when, either directly (artificially) excited, or when in that state of functional activity, which is due to the passage of impulses along them from the central apparatus. The most important way in which such a method could be applied was obviously one which would involve the investigation of the excitatory changes occurring in the fibres of the spinal cord when the cortex cerebri is stimulated. We must at once assume that the motor side of the central nervous system is practically divisible into three elements:— 1. Cortical centres. 2. Efferent (pyramidal tract) fibres leading down through the internal capsule, corona radiata, and spinal cord. 3. Bulbo-spinal centres contained in the medulla and the spinal cord, and forming the well-known nuclei of the cranial and also of the spinal motor nerves. It had already been determined, both by direct observation and by the graphic method (1) that certain areas of the cortex were connected with definite movements of various parts of the body, and (2) that while the complete discharge of the cortical apparatus was followed by a very definite and characteristic series of contractions of the muscles in special relation with the particular point excited, the effectual removal of the cortical central mechanisn and subsequent excitation of the white fibres passing down through the internal capsule, &c., led to the production of only a portion of the effect previously obtained from the uninjured brain.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: