[Effect of a generator of pathologically intensified excitation in the orbital cortex on the sleep--wakefulness cycle].

In experiments on cats it was shown that the creation of generator of pathologically intensified excitation (GPiE) in the orbital cortex resulted in certain pathological changes of sleep. These changes were expressed in a shortening of the wakefulness period and prolongation of the sleep state, the relationship between slow-wave and paradoxical sleep phases remaining unchanged. The results of the investigations confirm the suggestion concerning the participation of the orbito-frontal cortex in sleep induction. The obtained data are analyzed with respect to the general concept about the role of determinant structures in the nervous system activity and the theory of generator mechanisms of neuropathological syndromes characterized by hyperactivity of the systems.