testing a series of pharmaceutical agents for their effects
on
the motor system. In the initial state of the system,
electrically
stimulating the nerve cell will generate a muscle contraction
in
proportion to the intensity of the stimulation.
When tested by stimulating the nerve, the muscle again contracts
with normal force and duration.
Agent X is then added to the preparation and this time,
electrically stimulating the
nerve fails to elicit any muscle contraction. Direct stimulation
of the muscle, elicits...