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 language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 35-39 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Physiology and Behavior |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1977 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Auditory system
- Aversive brain stimulation
- Selective breeding
- Trapezoid body
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Behavioral Neuroscience