Irritability : $b a physiological analysis of the general effect of stimuli in living substanceVerworn, Max
Science
Irritability : $b a physiological analysis of the general effect of stimuli in living substance
Verworn, Max
Irritability
All these factors, the intensity with which the excitation extends from
the point of stimulation, the rapidity of the extension, and finally
the area over which conduction takes place, are manifestations of the
intensity of stimulus, and as such alter with these in corresponding
manner. If the end of a pseudopod is barely touched and thereby weakly
stimulated, the response is restricted to a slight wrinkling of the
surface, which slowly extends to the immediate neighborhood, whilst
the more distant parts of the pseudopod are not affected at all by
the excitation. (Figure 15, A.) On a stronger stimulation of the
pseudopod by slight pressure, the response is likewise stronger, and
the characteristic differentiation of the protoplasm, consisting in
the strongly refractive strand in the axis and the turbid myelinlike
outer mass, appears at the point of stimulation. From here a peculiar
alteration spreads gradually further over the pseudopod, in that
first upon its smooth surface a few myelinlike droplets are seen,
which become larger and with the development of the strand in the
axis, dissolve into a wrinkled mass on the surface. The further this
process extends from the point of stimulation, the weaker it becomes
and the more slowly it proceeds, until at last there is complete
disappearance. (Figure 15, B.) The pseudopod has at the same time
retracted to a considerable degree. If a still stronger stimulus is
applied by firm pressure at the end of the pseudopod the process takes
place with much greater violence. The differentiation of the protoplasm
spreads centripetally from the point of stimulation over the whole
pseudopod with great rapidity, and produces a quick retraction in the
same, then involves the oppositely directed pseudopod, in which it
then extends more and more slowly, until, proceeding in a centrifugal
direction, it is at last gradually completely obliterated. When strong
stimulation is applied, the process occurs with such rapidity that the
contraction of the pseudopod is almost twitchlike. As the rapidity of
the conduction alters within a wide limit according to the strength
of the stimulus and the distance from the point of stimulation, it
is self-evident that no constant figure can be stated. To give a
general idea of the rapidity, they might be estimated according to
observations I have made with second watch and ocular-micrometer as
from within a slight fraction to that of a millimeter in the second.
When a very long extended pseudopod is locally stimulated in the
middle, the response spreads from the point affected in both directions
diminishing in intensity and rapidity. The excitation extends equally
in all directions. (Figure 16.) These facts show very clearly that
in _Difflugia_ the excitation following a localized stimulus is
dependent on the intensity of the stimulus, and that according to
the degree of this, the wave progresses in either stronger, more
rapid and extended, or weaker, slower and more limited manner.
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