Some Behavioural Correlates of the Transcephalic d.c. Potential in Cats

Cowen, Murray A.; McDonald, Robert D.

doi:10.1038/207530b0

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Cats, rats and rabbits lack eccrine sweat glands on the head (Montagna, 1965) yet generate large, maintained, and functionally significant TCDC potentials (Cowen and McDonald, 1965;Cowen and Ross, 1967). Atropine and epinephrine are reported to block the GSR (Darrow, 1936;Wang, 1957;Wang, 1958) yet the former does not noticeably influence the TCDC potential (Cowen and McDonald, 1965), and the latter actually appears to increase the measurable voltage (Cowen and Ross, 1967). The skin-generated potential correlates with a decreased skin resistance, yet no studies have indicated that the transcephalically measured skin resistance is functionally correlated with psychophysiological events.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Some Aspects of the Transcephalic Dc Circuit

1967

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BSTRACTThe transcephalic DC potential is a maintained and functionally significant voltage recorded over the frontal and occipital emissary vein distributions on the midline of the scalp. Two possible sources for the potential are considered, cortical and cutaneous, and the latter is rejected on empirical grounds as the main voltage source. From consideration of the electrical properties of bone and of the blood, a path of least resistance is described, linking the cortex and the scalp. On the basis of this circuit pathway, a number of specific hypotheses are derived concerning the relative potentials, polarities and resistances to be foimd over regions of the cortex, skull and scalp and these predictions were found to be consistent with experimental results. These findings greatly strengthen the probability that the cortex is the main generator of the TCDC potentials, but also indicate that certain other structures probably modulate the circuit as well by acting as variable resistances.DESCRIPTORS: DC potentials. Biophysics, Emissary veins, Blood brain barrier. (M. A. Cowen) METHODSEmpirical studies of the preceding hypotheses were subsumed under three distinct methodological approaches which may be described successively.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Some Aspects of the Transcephalic Dc Circuit

1967

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“…These aperiodic voltage shifts are highly correlated with certain fundamental psychophysiological states of the organism. An external orientation brought about by hunger promotes a persistent frontally negative potential (Cowen and McDonald, 1965), and briefer frontal negative shifts occur upon the presentation of a novel or "interesting" exteroceptive and nonvestibular proprioceptive stimulus, e.g. of a visual, olfactory, tactile, auditory, vibratory or positional nature (Cowen and McDonald, 1965;Walter et al, 1964;Walter, 1964;Cowen, 1967).…”

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“…An external orientation brought about by hunger promotes a persistent frontally negative potential (Cowen and McDonald, 1965), and briefer frontal negative shifts occur upon the presentation of a novel or "interesting" exteroceptive and nonvestibular proprioceptive stimulus, e.g. of a visual, olfactory, tactile, auditory, vibratory or positional nature (Cowen and McDonald, 1965;Walter et al, 1964;Walter, 1964;Cowen, 1967). There is a prolonged positive frontal shift occurring with an internal orientation such as prompted by boredom, drowsiness, satiety and anesthesia (Cowen and McDonald, 1965;Becker, 1963).…”

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“…of a visual, olfactory, tactile, auditory, vibratory or positional nature (Cowen and McDonald, 1965;Walter et al, 1964;Walter, 1964;Cowen, 1967). There is a prolonged positive frontal shift occurring with an internal orientation such as prompted by boredom, drowsiness, satiety and anesthesia (Cowen and McDonald, 1965;Becker, 1963). A briefer positive frontal shift occurs with introceptive stimuli, e.g.…”

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“…A briefer positive frontal shift occurs with introceptive stimuli, e.g. of a visceral, respiratory, vesicular, vestibular, and pressoreceptive nature (Cowen and McDonald, 1965;Cowen, 1967).…”

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Some Biochemical Eactors That Modify the Transcephalic Dc Potential

Cowen

Ross

1967

Psychophysiology

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The transcephalic DC potential is that voltage recorded across the midline surface of the head between the frontal and occipital emissary vein distributions. Some psychophysiological correlates of this potential are described, and it is noted that little is known about the neuronal or biochemical modulation of it. Experiments are described using mature male cats, rabbits and rats as subjects. The frontal potential is found to shift progressively more positive as the depth of anesthesia increases. Pain causes a brief negative frontal shift and visceral irritation a positive one. Pinch mimics pain responses in etherized animals, but the DC shift is dampened in barbiturate anesthetized ones. Intracarotid injections of histamine and a histamine releaser produce a negative frontal shift. Heparin, serotonin, and nembutal produce positive frontal shifts. Epinephrine produces either a positive or negative shift, and potentiates the effects of histamine and serotonin. Histamine and serotonin combined produce a negative frontal shift. Many of these compounds are effective in 1/ig or smaller doses. These findings, plus further analyses of the persistence, magnitude, latency, and dosage relatedness of the shifts are presented.

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Some higher functional correlates of the transcephalic D. C. Circuit

Cowen

1968

Psych Quar

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Some Behavioural Correlates of the Transcephalic d.c. Potential in Cats

Cited by 7 publications

References 8 publications

Some Aspects of the Transcephalic Dc Circuit

Some Aspects of the Transcephalic Dc Circuit

Some Biochemical Eactors That Modify the Transcephalic Dc Potential

Some higher functional correlates of the transcephalic D. C. Circuit

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