Escape from stimulation of the trapezoid body in rats bred for escape from noise

Barbara J. Morley, Robert M. Ableson, J. Timothy Cannon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study shows that electrical stimulation of an auditory pathway, the trapezoid body, can produce escape behavior comparable in rate and pattern to that of the medial lemniscus, raphe nucleus, and spinal tract of the fifth nerve. The rate of escape increased with increases in voltage or frequency for all of these areas. The rate obtained was equal to or higher than that obtained with noise as the aversive stimulus. No differences were apparent between animals selectively bred for high rates and those selected for low rates. This study suggests that earlier reports of negative affect obtained with stimulation of the auditory system may not be due to negative conditioning, but directly to noise aversion. This investigation also extends the number of pathways in which electrical brain stimulation is known to produce escape behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)35-39
Number of pages5
JournalPhysiology and Behavior
Volume18
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1977
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Auditory system
  • Aversive brain stimulation
  • Selective breeding
  • Trapezoid body

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Escape from stimulation of the trapezoid body in rats bred for escape from noise'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this