Summary
Mean firing rates (per 10 sec) of preoptic neurons of the rat were recorded at normal temperature and after central warming and cooling. Thermosensitivity was determined according to the reactions of the mean firing rate. In compatibility with results from other animals we obtained the following percentages (52 neurons): 23% warm-sensitive, 13% cold-sensitive, 64% non-thermosensitive neurons.
However, it turned out that a lot of interesting special effects are not taken into account, using exclusively the criterion “increasing/decreasing/constant mean firing rate”. Particularly we observed long lasting adaption processes and stationary non-linear effects as well as striking oscillations which were dependent on the thermal stimuli, while the mean interval value remained constant.
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Jahns, R., Werner, J. Special aspects of firing rates and thermosensitivity of preoptic neurons. Exp Brain Res 21, 107–112 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234261
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234261