Increased locomotor activity of rats by self-stimulation in a running wheel.
A method was developed in which the intracranial self-stimulation of rats was dependent on their locomotor activity. During each rotation of a running wheel (= 0.75 m), six stimulus trains were administered via electrodes in the medial forebrain bundle. Under these conditions, animals increased their locomotor activity 112-fold, compared to a control condition without self-stimulation. This method may be a valuable procedure in various research fields where extreme increases in motor activity of laboratory animals are advantageous.
Schwarzberg
H
H
Institute of Physiology, Medical Academy, Magdeburg, G.D.R.
Roth
N
N
Stürmer
I
I
D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008297:Male; D008474:Medial Forebrain Bundle / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000502:physiology*