[Convergence of visceral afferent impulsation on hypothalamic neurons following stimulation of the vagus and splanchnic nerves].

Responses of single hypothalamic units to stimulation of the vagal, splanchnic and sciatic nerves and to photic stimulation were studied in anaesthetized, curarized cats. Most of the reactive neurons of the posterior and anterior hypothalamus responded to stimulation of vagus and splanchnicus. The pattern of responses of these polysensory units reactive in most cases to sciatic nerve and (or) photic stimulation too, were mainly unidirectional, nonreciprocal and excitatory in case of stimulation of visceral afferents of parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves. Absence of reciprocal responses to stimulation of "antagonistic" autonomic nerves and predominance of "convergence" units with polysensory inputs suggest that the electrical reaction of most of posterior as well as anterior hypothalamic neurons are of nonspecific "reticular" type.