Temporal summation and refractoriness in hypothalamic reward neurons as measured by self-stimulation behavior.
A neurophysiological technique of double-pulse stimulation has been applied to freely moving rats with chronic indwelling electrodes in the hypothalamic reward area. Self-stimulation thresholds, measured as a function of the interpulse interval, generated curves with time constants characteristic of refractory periods and temporal synaptic summation. The results indicate a way of studying central neuronal processes for which the overt behavior of the animal is the dependent variable.
D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011603:Psychophysiology; D051381:Rats; D011930:Reaction Time; D012201:Reward; D012653:Self Stimulation; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology