APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISM OF FOOD MOTIVATION

The present article estimates depolarization-polarization processes in the nerve tissue of afferent systems, including visceral ones, according to the changes of the direct current (DC) potential level. Food motivation is formed and satisfied concurrently with changes in the neocortex direct current potential level and a number of cerebral brain limbic structures in rats. Lateral hypothalamic nucleus, basolateral amygdala area, and auditory cortex in hungry rats have a more negative DC potential shift than in satisfied animals, while a reverse relation is observed in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. The results obtained are considered an indication of polarization shifts in the mechanism of motivated and emotional behavior. An idea of the determining role of polarization processes in the mechanism of motivated and emotional behavior is developed.     

THE USE OF THE PREMACK PRINCIPLE TO MOTIVATE PATIENT ACTIVITY ATTENDANCE

An investigation of how a behavioral modification technique can motivate institutionalized mental patients to increase their activity attendance     

CLINICAL APPROACH TO THE MANAGEMENT OF INTRACTABLE EPILEPSY

Resistance of seizures to anti-epileptic therapy may be due to patient error, or to physician diagnostic and/or treatment error, rather than being truly intractable epilepsy. Increased drug dosage, irrespective of blood levels, a change of drug, or the addition of a second drug, are variously indicated in truly resistant cases. The use of more than two drugs is better avoided, and in some cases reduction of treatment may improve seizure control while lessening side-effects. Repeated assessment of patients with refractory epilepsy is important, as causative or provocative factors may remain latent for long periods. Surgical therapy probably should be used more often and earlier than it now is for epilepsies that are medically intractable.