title: Visual unit, EEG and sustained potential shift responses in the brains of toads (Bufo bufo) during alert and defensive behavior.
abstract: Cranially mounted differential preamplifiers allowed visual unit activity, EEGs and sustained potential shifts to be monitored from the tectum of freely moving toads (Bufo bufo). Alert behavior was elicited by a moving visual stimulus. Movement of the stimulus in the receptive field of a unit elicited its activity and increased the amplitude of the high frequency component of the local EEG, accompanied by a sustained potential shift. When an animal received a "prod" with a perspex rod, defensive behavior ensued accompanied by slight activity of the visual unit, a large increase in the amplitude of the lower frequency component of the EEG and a large, sustained, potential shift. The results are discussed in relation to the specific neuronal unit responses of the animal and to possible sensitising functions of the non-specific EEG and sustained potential shift responses.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D002023:Bufo bufo / Q000502:physiology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D003336:Tectum Mesencephali / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*