Chemical brain stimulation as a means to circumvent electrical stimulation artefacts in single-unit recording studies of evoked vocalization.
This study describes a combined single-unit recording/chemical brain stimulation technique that proved to be helpful in cases in which the behavior pattern to be studied electrophysiologically is difficult to elicit repetitively by external stimuli, but is easily obtained by brain stimulation. The advantage of this technique over electrical elicitation of the behavior is the avoidance of periodic stimulation artefacts that make detailed analyses of pattern-correlated neuronal activity often impracticable. Out of a number of substances tested for chemical brain stimulation, kainic acid proved to be the most effective one. With a single injection of 50 ng (in 200 nl water) into the periaqueductal gray of the squirrel monkey up to 6480 vocalizations could be obtained over a period of 65 min. Up to 22 injections could be made at this dose before a site became unresponsive.
Kirzinger
A
A
Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry, Munich F.R.G.
Jürgens
U
U
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004560:Electricity; D007267:Injections; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D012453:Saimiri; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D007608:Kainic Acid