A physiological study of epileptic seizures following cortical stimulation in animals and its application to human clinics.

Abstract

1. Nicotinization (as well as picrotoxinization and metrazolization) applied to grey matters of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, midbrain, and cerebellar cortex produces selectively generalized clonic convulsion in dogs and apes; but that applied to the white matter or nerve causes no motor effects.2. By chemical stimulation and the method of elimination, the author confirmed the path of clonic convulsion as follows:thalamus (contralateral) thalamus (homolateral) Substantia nigra (contralateral) cerebrum→lenticular nuclei→Substantia nigra (homolateral)→(crossed)→anterior horn cell of spinal cord→skeletal muscle3. From the cerebellar cortex clonic convulsion was produced with or without cerebrum. The path passes through the thalamus to the lenticular nucleus, to the homolateral midbrain.4. After severing the lenticular nuclei of both sides, the clonic convulsion initiated in the cerebral cortex, thalamus, cerebellum or lenticular nucleus itself was completely abolished in dogs.5. Unitateral lenticotomy was applied to epileptic patients with partial success. Not only the fit of seizures, but also the fit of loss of consciousness was eradicated in successful cases. A very high cure rate is anticipated with bilateral lenticotomy.6. From the fact that cerebral clonic convulsion was produced in dogs in which the medullary pyramids had been severed, and that its path has several relay nuclei to the spinal cord, it must be considered that this system belongs to the extrapyramidal system.7. Some substances elicit tonic convulsions (TK) from the cerebrum and others alternating convulsions (LK). Thus the method of chemical stimulation can fractionate the action of the motor cells in experiments on the central nervous system, and elucidate the path of each system.