Characteristics of habituation in visceral systems

The conditions of development of habituation were studied in cats anesthetized with a mixture of chloralose and pentobarbital, and immobilized with flaxedil, by recording evoked potentials (EP) in the cerebral cortex. Cessation of stimulation was shown to lead to spontaneous recovery of EP, and the rate of its development depended on the number of stimuli applied in the habituation test. The use of repeated tests with constant intervals between them led to incomplete recovery of the amplitude of EP and to the more rapid development of habituation in subsequent tests (the habituation potentiation effect). During the development of habituation an extrastimulus restored the amplitude of EP (dehabituation). Repeated use of the extrastimulus reduced the effectiveness of its action (habituation of dehabituation). The results obtained corresponded to the features of habituation in other sensory systems.