CHAPTER 18 - The Theory of the Dominant and Its Relation to Higher Nervous Activity

Abstract

The theory of the dominant has been given a position in the physiology of the nervous system. Incorporating the most significant physiological features common to any activity of the organism, it was not related to the other aspects of the physiology of the central nervous system. It had no influence on the hypotheses and ideas that are a part of the physiology of higher nervous activity. This chapter focuses on the principles of the development of a functional system and on the physiological properties that allow this system of excitations to result in an adaptive end effect beneficial to the integrated organism. The adaptive effect is the quintessence of the functional system. It determines the composition, the rearrangement of efferent excitations, and the inevitable reverse afferentation of the intermediate or final adaptive effect. The purpose of the theory of the dominant is that it demonstrates the universal principle according to which dominance is a necessary condition for any activity. The theory of the dominant is a theory concerning the conditions of functioning expressed in parameters of excitation and excitability. It is theory about the necessary physiological basis for the occurrence of an activity.