The role of supraspinal input in embryonic motility: A re‐examination in the chick

The present experiments represent an attempt to further clarify the role of the brain in embryonic motility and behavior. By making high chronic cervical transections (“gaps”) at early prefuntional stages of incubation (i.e., 40–50 hours) and studying the subsequent emergence of motility in the chick it has been possible to determine that supraspinal input is not functional until about the tenth day of incubation. Acute cervical transections done at either 4–5 or 8–9 days lead to the same conclusion.

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