Transient facilitation and inhibition of sexual reflexes in female hamsters.
Artificial stimuli were used to study transient changes in responsiveness of female hamsters in natural estrus to tactile stimuli occurring during mating. Tactile stimulation just lateral to the vagina produces a transient facilitation of responses to stimulation of the contralateral side, while tactile stimulation of the midline produces a short-term inhibition of lateral movement in response to tactile stimulation. These short-term changes in responsiveness are probably an integral part of the basic sexual responses of the female hamster that contribute to insertion during copulatory attempts.
Noble
R G
RG
Department of Psychology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180.
Attas
A
A
Adler
N T
NT
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology*