Die asynchrone und lokal umschriebene Reizwirkung von Mittelfrequenz-Dauerströmen im Hypothalamus der Katze

Summary

• 1. In order to compare the selective value of repetitive cathodal pulses of 8 c.p.s. and of continuous sine-wave alternating currents of 5000 c.p.s. (middle frequency current) when applied to brain tissue, explorations were made in the region of the hypothalamus that had yielded defence and/or flight reactions in earlier experiments. The region was explored by stimulating each point in turn with both current forms. At the same time measurement was made of the impedance of the brain tissue, and the effects produced by altering the time of rise of the middle frequency current on threshold of responses were also studied. The experiments were carried out on unanaesthetized, freely moving cats.

• 2. Both stimulation types produced affective (“emotional”) responses. The patterns elicited by low frequency cathodal pulse stimulation were often associated with stimulus-bound phasic muscle activity, i.e., flapping of ears, and twitching of whiskers, or, rotation of the head. Such extraneous motor effects were rarely obtained when continuous middle frequency currents were applied, and were tonic in character when present.

• 3. Mapping of reactive points revealed that the area producing defence or flight following middle frequency stimulation is smaller in size than the field delimited by means of repetitive cathodal pulse stimulation. These results strongly suggest that spread of current can be reduced by using middle frequency current stimulation. This apparently local (and hence highly selective) action is paralleled by a lower impedance of the brain tissue to the rapidly changing polarity of this current.

• 4. The hissing (and/or growling) associated with the defence pattern showed adaptation to suddenly rising middle frequency currents of 30 secs duration. An increase in threshold of hissing occurred when the time of rise of the current was prolonged. Flight, in contrast, was obtained at the same critical intensity regardless of the time of rise of current.

• 5. The nature of the stimulatory action of middle frequency current (examined in the peripheral nerve by Wyss) and the advantages presented by this new method of brain stimulation are briefly discussed.