Sentence:  Consequently , if for any reason the hypothalamic excitability falls below the physiological level , the lessened hypothalamic cortical discharges lead to a diminished state of activity in the cortex with consequent reduction in the <WSD>cortico-fugal</WSD> discharges . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  of a nerve fiber passing outward from the cerebral cortex