The importance of I. M. Sechenov’s electrophysiological research (On the 150th anniversary of his birth)

Abstract

In his electrophysiological studies I. M. Sechenov described for the first time the spontaneous electrical activity of the isolated brain, the physical electrotonus in the CNS, the amplifying action of anodic polarization on spontaneous and induced electrical activity, phenomena of inhibition of spontaneous and induced electrical oscillations of the brain upon tetanization of sensory nerves and negative shifts in the potential of the brain. Thus Sechenov discovered some basic electrical manifestations of the activity of the CNS and initiated fundamental electrophysiological studies of the brain.