ELICITATION OF SCRATCHING MOVEMENTS BY MECHANICAL STIMULATION TO SPINAL CORD IN DECEREBRATE CATS

1. Mechanical stimulation on dorsal surface of the spinal cord can evoke the scratching movement in decerebrate cats.2. The area to evoke the scratch movements is located on the dorsal surface of the cord 2mm lateral to the dorsal central spinal artery at the level of C1 and C2. The movements lasted for 4-34 sec. and the latency ranged from less than 1 sec. to 4 sec. and the frequency was 1-4 per sec.3. In cats anesthetized with pentobarbital, the scratching movements could not be elicited.4. Pinna, galloping and stepping reflex movements were also evoked by mechanical stimulation of various levels of the spinal cord in decerebrate cats.