Abstract
As one of the aims to clarify the mechanism of depression during animal hypnosis induced by inversion, the changes of flexor reflex during inversion were investigated in Rana pipiens.
Flexor reflex was induced by repetitive electric stimulation applied on the skin of lower extremities and was recorded electromyographically from anterior tibial muscle.
Flexor reflex was markedly inhibited by inversion. Such inhibition was not influenced by the grade of stimulus strength causing flexor reflex. The destruction of vestibular organ did not influence on inhibition of flexor reflex during inversion. Among of the transections in rostral end, medial and caudal end midbrain, the transection in caudal end abolished inhibition of flexor reflex during inversion.
These results indicate that the inhibitory center of flexor reflex during inversion is located in the caudal part of the midbrain in amphibians.
