one of the basic principles of the activity of the central nervous system, formulated by A. A. Ukhtomsky. According to this principle, under the influence of any excitation caused by external or internal stimuli, a focus of dominant excitation (the so-called “dominant”) is formed in the brain, which ensures the activity of the organism in a certain direction and is capable of exerting an inhibitory effect on the work of other nerve centers that prevent this. The principle of dominance was based on numerous experiments that Ukhtomsky conducted on dogs. The dominant, according to Ukhtomsky, is represented as a certain constellation of centers with increased excitability in various levels of the brain and spinal cord, as well as in the autonomous system.