Cortico-Subcortical Homeostasis in the Cat's Brain

Abstract

Transcortical polarization of one cerebral hemisphere, while producing the well-known changes in the amplitude of the evoked potentials in the ipsilateral cortex, induced opposite behavior of these indicators in the contralateral cortex. With the corpus callosum sectioned, the reciprocal relationship was enhanced. Anesthetic doses of barbiturates not only eliminated reciprocity but made the potentials on both sides react in unison to unilateral polarization. These findings suggest the existence of a negative feedback system between the cerebral cortex and the subcortex and the existence of a "left-right equalizing" mechanism carried by pathways in the corpus callosum.