FEEDING RESPONSES ELICITED BY THE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF LATERAL HYPOTHALAMUS IN THE CAT

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Abstract
In stimulating to the lateral hypothalamic area (HL) electrically, eating responses which bound to stimulation directly were obtained in 15 out of 98 cats. These animals discriminated between edible and inedible objects. Successive behavioral changes were observed in varing the parameters (voltage or frequency) of stimulation. The loci eliciting the above responses lay in the external part of HL at the level of the ventromedial hypothalamus (Hvm). Diffuse area in HL commonly produced sniffing responses. Low-voltage fast activity appeared in Hvm lead selectively when the cat was eager to get food after 24 hr starvation. Methamphetamine (2.0 mg/kg i. v.) elevated the threshold of stimulus intensity during 15-30 min after injection.