Effect of experimentally induced heart disease on conditioned reflexes inhibiting respiration and the activity of the heart

Summary

A reduction of the unconditioned reflex, which caused apnea and bradycardia was noted in animals with compenraten expenmental setic stenosis. The sound and light conditioned reflexes which were formed on its base were, likewise, reduced. The process of formation of the new conditioned reflexes on the base of the above unconditioned inflex became more difficult. These experimental data were evaluated in view of I. P. Pavlov's conception of the closure of the conditioned association between the cortical representation of unconditioned reflex and the cortical representation of the corresponding conditioned stimulant. It may be suggested that the reduction of the above unconditioned reflex in heart defect causes decreased excitability of its cortical representation. As a result of this the power of the process of excitation is decreased, the existing temporary associations are disturbed to a certain degree and the formation of new temporary associations becomes more difficult. The adaptive significance of reduction of unconditioned and conditioned reflexes, which inhibit the heart activity consists (in condition of heart defect) in the fact that it more or less guarantees the vitally important continuity of the compensatory hyperfunction of the heart.