Integrative neurovegetative and motor control: phenomena and theory.
The general problem of specificity and the existence of separate central control systems for different peripheral systems is handled and exemplified by the control of circulation, respiration and motor innervation. The considerations are based on several earlier experimental studies of spontaneous coordinations of rhythmic activities in anaesthetized dogs and conscious men and microelectrode recordings and local cooling experiments in the brain stem of anaesthetized dogs and cats. Analysis of findings and logical deductions result in the statement that central control systems must be partly identical and that the usual criteria of labelling central neurones according to their coordination to specific control systems are necessary but not sufficient. Instead the picture of a multifunctional common network emerges forming the substrate of the observed common central rhythmicity. In this network specificity is a quantitative property of neurones. A simple model is outlined illustrating that slight inhomogeneity leads to graded input-output specificity in the network which changes with changing conditions. The degree of neuronal specificity increases in the direction of the outputs. Applications of the network model to concrete observations in animal experiments are discussed.
Institute of Physiology, Free University of Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.
H P
HP
Koepchen
H H
HH
Abel
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Klüssendorf
D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement; D010507:Periodicity; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena