[Characteristics of the thermosensitivity of posterior hypothalamic neurons]

Changes in the mean firing rate of 260 neurons in the rabbit posterior hypothalamus at a local increase (0.6-1.5 degrees C) or decrease in the posterior hypothalamus temperature (0.6-2.0 degrees C), were studied. 45 (17%) warm-sensitive neurons (the increase of firing rate at an increase of local temperature) and 28 (11%) cold-sensitive neurons (the increase of firing rate at a decrease of local temperature), were found. Most of these neurons had a certain threshold for their frequency-temperature relation.