[Reactions of respiratory center neurons to local cooling of the ventral surface of the medulla oblongata].

In anesthetized cats, in conditions of vagal and sinus deafferentation, the effect of bilateral cooling of portions of the medulla oblongata ventral surface on electric activity of the respiratory volley neurons, was studied. The main types of the responses were as follows: cessation or reduction of firing, transformation of the volley discharges into continuous those or continuous with respiratory modulation. These responses were followed by cessation or sharp depression of respiration. Data on localization of fields whose cooling entails maximal inhibitory responses of the respiratory neurons, are presented.