Physiological research
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Physiological research · Jan 1996
Clinical TrialManual tracing efficiency contingent upon stimulus shape and performance practice.
Tracing movements (hand-following the stationary contours of three two-dimensional figures: square, triangle and circle by means of a computer mouse-operated lightspot) were analyzed during five consecutive days. All three figures consisting of four (square, circle) or three (triangle) segments had the same circumference. Three parameters were chosen to express the tracing efficiency: average error, average time and performance quotient (average error per time unit) either for individual segments or the whole figures. ⋯ However, considering the whole figures all three parameters displayed better values for the right hand. No differences were found with respect to the direction of tracing movements (clockwise or counter-clockwise). During the first three days both average error and time decreased, the change in later performance is caused by shortening of the average time only.
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Physiological research · Jan 1996
Laryngeal patency and expiration reflex following focal cold block of the medulla in the cat.
The involvement of the intermediate area and Bötzinger complex (BOT) of the rostral ventral respiratory group (r-VRG) in laryngeal control and generation of the expiration reflex were studied in anaesthetized non-paralyzed cats Focal cooling (to 20 degrees C) of the nucleus paraambigualis (NPA) caused changes in the frequency and timing of breathing with the concomitant rise in laryngeal resistance. Cooling of the nucleus ambiguus resulted in a consistent drop in laryngeal resistance. ⋯ The expiration reflex was inhibited by cooling of either the NPA or BOT. The role of these medullary regions in the control of laryngeal patency and central integration of the expiration reflex is discussed.