Effects of electrical stimulation in the amygdala on ponto-geniculo-occipital waves in rats.
We examined the role of the amygdala in the modulation of sleep and ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) waves in the rat. The amygdala projects massively, via its central nucleus, into brainstem regions involved in alerting and in the generation of rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep and PGO waves. Electrical stimulation of the central nucleus of the amygdala during REM sleep increased PGO wave amplitude. Stimulation during non-REM sleep decreased PGO wave frequency. The results indicate that the amygdala has a role in modulating brainstem neural mechanisms underlying alerting during sleep.
Deboer
T
T
Dept. of Animal Biology, Laboratory for Study of the Brain in Sleep, The School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Sanford
L D
LD
Ross
R J
RJ
Morrison
A R
AR
D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D011149:Pons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley