Journal of neurophysiology
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1. Multiple site optical recording of transmembrane voltage (MSORTV), together with conventional extracellular electrophysiological techniques were utilized with in vivo and in vitro preparations of the olfactory bulb of the Atlantic skate Raja erinacea to analyze electrical activity simultaneously in layers deep to the glomerular layer. 2. In the living animals and the in vitro isolated olfactory bulb, orthodromic stimulation evoked a compound action potential in the olfactory nerve fibers, followed by a series of early field-potential waves (N1, P1, N2, P2, N3, and N4). ⋯ Just threshold orthodromic stimuli evoked an intermediate period of facilitation of the slow signals. A similar period was also observed in the N2 wave of the field potential. 7. Calcium channel blockers such as cadmium ion, or a low Ca2+ medium, suppressed the slow optical component whether evoked by orthodromic, antidromic, or direct stimulation. gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and baclofen also reduced or blocked the slow component of the extrinsic absorption signal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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1. Diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC) were compared in control sham-operated rats and in rats with lesions of mesencephalic structures involved in the modulation of pain, namely the periaqueductal gray (PAG), cuneiformis nucleus (CNF), and parabrachial nucleus (PB). 2. Lesions were induced by ibotenic acid: 4 micrograms (0.2 microliter) injected bilaterally in the PAG or the CNF-PB area or 10 micrograms (0.5 microliter) injected unilaterally in the CNF or PB. ⋯ We conclude that the PAG, CNF, and PB, three structures that are putatively involved in the modulation of pain, do not participate directly in the supraspinal part of the loop subserving DNIC. The involvement of other structure(s) and a possible indirect modulation of DNIC are discussed. It is also concluded that the PAG, CNF, and PB do not participate directly in the tonic descending inhibitory controls, which are presumed to modulate the activity of convergent neurons.
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1. The biosonar signal (pulse) of the mustached bat, Pteronotus parnellii parnellii, has four harmonics (H1-4), each consisting of a long constant-frequency component (CF1-4) followed by a short frequency-modulated component (FM1-4). As the bat approaches a target, it systematically modifies its pulses to optimize the extraction of information from the echoes. ⋯ They increased their pulse intensity during the backswing. 3) Pulse duration increased from approximately 20 to 23 ms early in the forward swing, decreased to approximately 18 ms as the target was more closely approached, and then increased to 20 ms by the end of the backswing. 4) The instantaneous repetition rate increased from approximately 17 pulses/s at the start of the forward swing to approximately 28 pulses/s near the target, then decreased to approximately 10 pulses/s by the end of the backswing. Pulses usually occurred in trains of 1-2 pulses, with longer trains occasionally occurring near the target. 3. The maximum DS on the pendulum was 1.34 kHz, and the maximum DS compensation was 146 +/- 98 (SD) Hz less than this value.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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Comparative Study
Comparison of heat and mechanical receptive fields of cutaneous C-fiber nociceptors in monkey.
1. Receptive-field properties were investigated in cutaneous C-fiber nociceptive afferents (CMH) responsive to mechanical and heat stimuli. Teased-fiber techniques were used to record from 28 CMHs that innervated the hairy skin of upper or lower limb in anesthetized monkeys. 2. ⋯ Because lateral transmission of the heat stimulus is small, this indicates that heat transduction occurs outside the regions of maximal mechanical sensitivity. 6. Both the threshold to heat and the response magnitude at suprathreshold intensities depended on the percentage of the RF area overlapped by the heat stimulus. This indicates that multiple transducer sites probably contribute to the total evoked response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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Comparative Study
Adaptive control for backward quadrupedal walking. I. Posture and hindlimb kinematics.
1. To gain new perspectives on the neural control of different forms of quadruped locomotion, we studied adaptations in posture and hindlimb kinematics for backward (BWD) walking in normal cats. Data from four animals were obtained from high-speed (100 fr/s) ciné film of BWD treadmill walking over a range of slow walking speeds (0.3-0.6 m/s) and forward (FWD) treadmill walking at 0.6 m/s. 2. ⋯ At the hip, angular motion was unidirectional, as the hip flexed during BWD stance but extended during FWD stance. Knee extension was the prime contributor to horizontal displacement of the body during BWD stance, but hip extension was the prime contributor to horizontal displacement during FWD stance. 6. Our kinematic data revealed two discriminators between BWD and FWD walking.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)