Experiment 13: Nervous Response

RESPONSES OF A FROG
Alconera, Amper, Decio, Ladrera, Ong

OBJECTIVE
To

compare and dierentiate the stimuli

responses of a normal frog from a
decerebrated, brain-pithed and double pithed
frog

NERVOUS SYSTEM
complex

network of nerves and cells that carry

signals to and from the brain and spinal cord to
various parts of the body

connects

receptors to eectors & coordinates

dierent parts of the body to bring about
responses to stimuli

includes

the central nervous system (brain,

spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system
(sensory receptors, motor eectors)
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Response: change in an organism

triggered by a stimulus

Stimulus: something that is

capable of evoking a response
from an organism; may be
external or internal

Irritability: an organisms ability

to respond to a stimulus

Receptors: structures where

stimuli act upon

WHY DO WE USE FROGS?

contain

primitive & advanced vertebrate

structures

small,

cheap, readily available

nervous

systems are highly developed & similar

to humans

position

humans

of internal organs are similar to

PITHING
method

wherein a
needle is inserted to
destroy the brain or
the spinal cord or
both

leads

to loss of some
stimuli responses of
the frog

DECEREBRATION
removing

the cerebrum
by cutting across the
brain stem or severing
certain arteries in the
brain stem

eliminates

function

cerebral brain

STIMULI TESTED

Touch: pinching frogs hindtoe using forceps

Electric shock: touching limbs with an electrode

Heat: touching limbs with a heated rod

Chemical: exposing its abdomen, back, arm, hind leg and toe
to 10% acetic acid

Righting the body:seeing if the frog is able to regain its

normal position after laying it on its back

Compensatory movement: tilting the petri dish side to side

and rotating it CW & CCW to see if the frog is able to adjust
to these movements
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Results:
STIMULUS
TOUCH
ELECTRIC SHOCK
HEAT
CHEMICAL
RIGHTING THE
BODY
COMPENSATORY
MOVEMENT

NORMAL

SPINAL

DECEREBRATED

TOTALLY
PITHED

+
+
+
+
+

+
+
+
+
-

+
+
+
+
+

+
-

 normal

& decerebrated

responds to all stimuli

in the experiment, some decerebrated responses were

delayed

pithed

only responds to touch, electric shock, heat and chemical

stimuli since the other 2 rely on the cerebellum

totally

brain

pithed

wouldnt respond to any stimuli at all except for electric

shock, which is a reflex of the muscle

IDEAL RESULTS

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GUIDE QUESTIONS - CHEMICAL

Did the stimulated part respond in each case? What types of

responses were seen?

Were there dierences among the frogs? What were these?

The frogs did not respond in all cases. Responses such as

twitching and even jumping/escaping were seen.
None. All frogs, generally, had a responded when exposed
to the chemical.

In what parts were the responses most rapid? Why?

The frogs responded more rapidly when their bellies were

exposed to the chemical probably because this area,
compared to the back and limbs, had thinner skin.
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GUIDE QUESTIONS - RIGHTING THE BODY

What body parts were physically

involved in the response? What
parts of the nervous system
were responsible for this?

The back, forelimbs and

hindlimbs were physically
involved. They are
controlled by the
cerebellum, which is
located in the CNS and is
responsible for the control
& regulation of voluntary
movements.
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GUIDE QUESTIONS - COMPENSATORY MOVEMENT

What parts of the nervous system

are responsible in this body
coordination?

The cranial nerves (specifically

vestibulocochlear from PNS)
and cerebellum (CNS) are
responsible for this body
coordination.

Vestibulocochlear: balance

Cerebellum: balance &

equilibrium of the body
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GUIDE QUESTIONS

From the dierent frog cases, what general conclusion can be

drawn as to the role of the parts of the nervous system?

Frog responses will be limited depending on the part of

the CNS that was damaged.
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CONCLUSION
Destroyed part of CNS

Functions lost

none

none

brain

Abilities for compensatory

movement, remaining upright
& balancing

Decerebrated

forebrain

Spontaneous Movement, touch

perception, memory

Double pithed

brain & spinal cord

All abilities to react to stimuli

Normal

Spinal

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