[Neuronal activity of intracardiac ganglia in the isolated cat atrium]

Extracellular recording revealed that neurons of the intracardiac ganglions, as distinct from ganglionic neurons of other visceral organs, were characterized by absence of spontaneous activity. The diversity of duration and rate of spike generation seems to reflect different grades of neuronal membrane depolarization and its resistance in time against mechanical effects of electrode upon the cell. The activity thus induced is unrelated to the rate of myocardium local contractions. The possibility of interneuronal interaction at the ganglion level under conditions of complete isolation of the right atrium, has been shown.