An electrophysiological study of the hypothalamic defense response

Abstract

An Electrophy­ siological Study of the Hypothalamic Defense Response. Rev. esp. Fisiol., 30, 253- 260. 1974.

In chronic cats with múltiple implanted electrodes changes in the electrical activity of the hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus and middle ectosylvian cortex simul- taneous to or following the hypothalamically elicited defense response were studied. Electrical stimulation of the perifornical hypothalamus consistently elicited a low- threshold defense pattern without the appearance of seizure-like activity. The recording of electrical paroxismal activity from the perifornical hypothalamus elicited by sti­ mulation of neighbouring areas does not lead to the development of the defense res­ ponse. It is concluded that electrical discharges recorded from the hypothalamic substrate for the expression of emotions are not able to actívate this substrate in a suitable manner.