Central representation of affective reactions in forebrain and brain stem: electrical stimulation of amygdala, stria terminalis, and adjacent structures

Abstract

Ever since Bard (1928) demonstrated on cats that rage reactions readily develop after decortication and transection of the brain stem at the level of the diencephalon, the attention of workers has been directed toward the role played by the diencephalon and mesencephalon in the government of these reactions. Ranson & Magoun (1933) by electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus in cats with the head fixed in a stereotaxic apparatus obtained spitting; Magoun, Atlas, Ingersoll & Ranson (1937) from the central gray matter of the mid-brain and the adjacent tegmentum produced hissing and crying. On the waking, freely moving cat, Hess & Briigger (1943) elicited an affective defence reaction, i.e. hissing, lowering of the head, flattening of the ears, marked dilatation of the pupils, and pilo-erection on back and tail, by stimulation of the 'perifornical' region of the hypothalamus. Flight responses have also been produced by stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus and the adjacent subthalamic region (Hess, 1949(Hess, , 1957. Hunsperger (1956) obtained the affective defence reaction, not only from the 'perifornical' region of the hypothalamus, but also from the central gray matter of the mid-brain, these two areas being surrounded by a larger common field from which flight responses were obtained. It was therefore concluded that the substratum concerned with these various patterns of emotional behaviour constitutes an unbroken field, comprising portions of the central gray matter of the preoptic area, the hypothalamus and the mid-brain. The reactions were strikingly similar to those seen when a cat is confronted by a dog, but did not appear to be the pain-suggestive reactions reported by Spiegel, Kletzkin & Szekely (1954) in the unrestrained cat, and by Delgado (1955)

Proceedings of the Physiological Society

“…These findings suggest that the structure of the muscarinic ACh receptors in the ileum may be similar in some respects to the active surface of cholinesterase as revealed by the studies of Wilson & Bergmann (1950 London,N. W. 7 Stimulation in the amygdaloid nuclei produces a defence reaction similar to that described by Hess on stimulation of the hypothalamus (Kaada, Andersen & Jansen, 1948;Magnus & Lammers, 1956;Shealy & Peele, 1957;De Molina & Hunsperger, 1959).…”

“…Recently, De Molina & Hunsperger (1959) found that stimulation of the stria terminalis produced a defence reaction. They therefore suggested that the stria connects the amygdala with the hypothalamic centre for the defence reaction.…”

The Psychobiology of Consciousness

“…Of the three families of psychotropic agents producing transcendence, neurobiologically and subjectively, leaving sensorium and memory intact, only the amphetamine group regularly leads to a vicious aggressiveness. It is tempting to speculate that a release of the amygdala-lateral hypothalamic rage mechanism (deMolina & Hunsperger, 1959) from dopamine control may be responsible.…”

“…Perhaps there is a neurological substrate for the Eastern metaphysical statement about the inconsistency of rage and desire, which generate attachment, with transcendent consciousness (Smith, 1958). The rage of the amygdala-dominated limbic hypothalamic system (Gloor, 1955;deMolina & Hunsperger, 1959) may be inconsistent with the behavioral and subjective concomitants as well as the high-voltage slow waves restricted to the hippocampus and the septum (MacLean & Ploog, 1962). suggested that the Kluver-Bucy syndrome of insensitivity (psychic blindness), unbridled oral-sexual activity, and tendency toward rage is reciprocal in temporal lobe epileptics with the syndrome of religious ecstasies, kindness, sensitivity, and hyposexuality when changed with antiepileptic drugs or neurosurgical removal of the focus.…”

Agonistic Behavior and Its Cardiovascular Components Elicited by Microinjection of L-glutamic Acid into the Basal Midbrain of the Toad <i>Bufo paracnemis</i>

“…by electrical stimula tion of the basal midbrain. The flight response has been extensively studied in cats, rabbits and rats, in which it was mainly detected as a consequence of electrical and chem ical stimulation of subtcctal portions of the PAG (De Molina andHunspergcr. 1959: Skultcty.…”