The hunger mechanism is a local mechanism within the stomach itself, subject to central regulation. A great accumulation of well established data points to the fact that hunger is a sensation produced by an increase in intragastric tension.1 This is produced by characteristic contractions of the empty or nearly empty stomach beginning in the fundic region. Physical attitudes and local pathologic conditions, as ulcer or pyloric constriction, interpret tension as pain.2
Stomach activity is influenced by peripheral nervous control.3 The vagus nerve carries impulses stimulating tone and peristalsis; the splanchnics contain inhibitory fibers. By these two paths central action is exerted. It has been found, however, that with both vagi and splanchnics sectioned the stomach regains the tone temporarily lost, and the typical muscular activity of the stomach is resumed. This suggests a mechanism inherent in the stomach itself which regulates motor activity. The anatomic basis of such a system