Evoked Activity in the Hypothalamus and Amygdala of the Cat in Conditions of Food-Related Motivation and Emotional Tension

Abstract

The amplitude-time characteristics of potentials evoked by clicks were analyzed in bilateral leads from the lateral hypothalamus and amygdala in cats in conditions of food-related motivation, emotional tension (presentation of dogs), and orientational reactions. In conditions of food-related motivation, as compared with the satiated state, there were decreases in the latent periods and changes in the amplitudes of the P1 and N2 components in the hypothalamus and P1, N2, and N3 in the amygdala. The most marked changes occurred on the left side in both structures. Presentation of dogs induced decreases in the latent periods of all components (including N1) of evoked potentials in the hypothalamus and amygdala, the most marked changes in the hypothalamus occurring on the right side and the most marked changes in the amygdala occurring on the left side. Conversely, orientational reactions to emotionally neutral stimuli induced increases in the latent periods of evoked potentials. It is concluded that there is an increase in sensory reactivity in the hypothalamus and amygdala in motivational-emotional states. It is suggested that the side of dominance in these structures may be associated both with the factor of the activity/passivity of the behavior in conditions of fear and the genesis of the emotion (motivational or informational).

Enhanced brain performance in mice following postnatal stress

“…At the same time, acute stress in general produces stimulating effects on cellular signaling and neurophysiologic models and is followed by enhanced passive avoidance learning, although these effects may depend on the type, intensity, and duration of stressful models. Acute stress induces also increased BDNF levels in the cortex and hippocampus of rodents (Kaneto 1997, Calderon et al 1999, Das et al 2000, Black 2002, Bland et al 2005, Schneiderman et al 2005, Ahmed et al 2006, Pavlova & Vanetsian 2006, Dungan et al 2009, Mazurek et al 2010, Shackman et al 2011, Tomiyama et al 2012, Uysal et al 2012). …”

The Role of Genital Nerve Afferents in the Physiology of the Sexual Response and Pelvic Floor Function

“…Neurologists believe that the hypothalamus plays a critical role in human drives. Here, socially appropriate sexual urges are coordinated with the “four Fs” of human behavior, i.e., fear, feeding, fighting, and frustration [46]. It is thought that the hypothalamus processes relevant sexual stimuli, and activates somatomotor and autonomic mechanisms responsible for penile erection [47].…”

Early automatic hyperarousal in response to neutral novel auditory stimuli among trauma‐exposed individuals with and without PTSD: An ERP study

“…Since N1‐P2 complex and N1 ERPs have been associated with preconscious processing of incoming stimuli (Boddy, ), the current findings may suggest that the response to neutral (trauma‐unrelated) novel stimuli after trauma is characterized by hyperarousal at early stages of information processing, while later stage processing, which involves response categorization and working memory (P3; Luck, ), may remain intact. Previously, N1 and P2 alteration (in response to stress or threat) has been associated with alterations of the amygdala and PFC, leading to increased vigilance in threatening environments (Kuniecki, Coenen, & Kaiser, ; Pavlova & Vanetsian, ; Shackman, Maxwell, McMenamin, Grieschar, & Davison, ; Yoshimura, Kawamura, Masaoka, & Homma, ). This postulation is supported by previous research showing that stress amplifies early sensory processing of nonthreatening stimuli and increases the sensitivity (while decreasing the specificity) of amygdala reactivity (Shackman et al., ; van Marle, Hermans, Qin, & Fernandez, ).Thus, our findings may indicate an overresponsivity of the amygdala and medial PFC system, akin to a quickly activated alarm system that facilitates early processing of threatening stimuli (Armony, Corbo, Clément, & Brunet, ; Bryant et al., ; Rabellino et al., ).…”