ABLATIONS OF FRONTAL CORTEX IN CATS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ENHANCEMENT OF THE SCRATCH REFLEX

Abstract

In cats, with bilateral ablations of frontal cortex, there was great exaggeration of the scratch reflex after an interval of 2 to 6 wks. Gentle stroking of the back with a finger caused a depression of the back and pelvis as if the cat were going through a hole under a fence. Other behavior was similar in most instances to that previously described. The cats with unilateral frontal ablations showed a transient loss of the scratch reflex in the contralateral extremities which returned in 2 wks. and never became exaggerated.