[A possible principle of kinesthetic compensation]

The movement of the cat forelimb was studied under the conditions of complete transection of the classical somatosensory pathways from the limb to the cortex of the contralateral hemisphere. It was demonstrated that in animals with the intact system of the somatosensory (kinesthetic) feedback, the parameters of the same memorized movement varied widely from response to response whereas the exclusion of lemniscus projections from the control system led to the poor movement pattern and to the appearance of motor stereotypy. The hypothesis is advanced that deficit of kinesthetic information in this case is compensated for not only by the other intact connections of the kinesthetic analyzer but also due to the conversion of the nervous system to the central-programmed level control which itself demands less participation of the somatosensory feedback. The non-crossed projections of the kinesthetic analyzer are capable of forming and correcting this program and of ensuring the effect afferentation as well. The same principle of the functioning may take place in any compensatory reconstructions in the CNS.