CORTICAL INHIBITION OF GASTRIC MOTILITY

Abstract

A variety of effects on gastric motility has been reported from cortical stimulation and ablation particularly of the cruciate region and the "orbital surface." Using unfed adult dogs under light chloralose-urethane (110) narcosis, strong regular peristaltic waves were recorded from the pyloric antrum at the rate of 10-18/min. These could be inhibited or abolished by stimulation of 2 regions: (1) A small area on the subgenual portion of the anterior cingulate gyms, and (2) a larger area on the "insular orbital" surface, so-called to emphasize the homology between part of this region and the island of Reil in man. Barbiturates, in the usual dosage, inhibited peristaltic activity. No augmentation of antral peristalsis was produced in this series.