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The spontaneous muscular activity of the masseter and two non-masticatory muscles, and their activity under conditions of noise and flickering light, were recorded in 30 patients with mandibular dysfunction, and in 25 control subjects. The mood of the subjects during the investigation, and the possible presence of emotional disturbances was evaluated by means of questionnaires. The enhanced muscular activity of the masseter muscle differentiated patients from the control group, although it does not constitute a pathognomic sign. Unilaterality of complaints, and dysfunctions of differing intensity were not reflected in differential EMG findings. One-fifth of the patients exhibited neck muscle activity occurring simultaneously with the masseter activity. The effect of the applied stimuli on the muscular activity was not homogeneous, leading to activation in some cases and inhibition in others. Symptoms of anxiety could be observed in seven TMJ patients. Anxious patients showed higher levels of muscular activity and emotional irritability during the experiment than non-anxious patients.

This experiment is the 1st step undertaken to analyze the role of the cerebral cortex in avoidance behavior. A group of 20 normal and 2 groups of neodecorticate rats were trained in an avoidance CR to a light signal. One group of neodecorticate Ss was trained postoperatively (Group A, N = 10) and the other pre-and postoperatively (Group B, N = 20). In the latter, retention of the habit was also studied. Both groups of neodecorticate Ss showed a serious deficit in the learning of the CR (visual) as compared with normal Ss. Preoperatively trained Ss appeared to perform better than Ss trained postoperatively. The deficit of the performance of neodecorticate Ss in the CR are interpreted to be determined by the nature of the CS (visual) and by the nature of the CR (general motor response in free situation).

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