ON THE KINETICS OF RECOVERY DURING THE REFRACTORY PERIOD IN FROG'S NERVE

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Abstract
By means of stimuli of short, equal durations and variable strengths, the refractory period may be described in terms of the ratios, S = K/h, K being the rate of accumulation of the excitatory state per unit stimulus and h being the threshold value of the excitatory state. At the end of the absolute phase, this state S, beginning at O returns to its end point, So, at a rate proportional to the distance remaining. The end point depends upon the rate of some oxidative process which is raised by the response, and which recovers exponentially to its resting value. When its recovery is fast there is no supernormal phase of excitability, but when it is slow there is a supernormal phase as well as an evident after-potential which is associated in some way with the excess oxidation. The time constant of the recovery of the state, S, has no electrical manifestation, is independent of pH, and of fiber size to some extent, is increased about 3-fold with 10[degree]C. rise in temp., and varies inversely as the absolute period as this varies with temp. The time constant of the oxidative process varies similarly with temp. but is increased very greatly on going from acidic to alkaline media.

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