EFFECTS OF ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION IN THE AMYGDALA ON PONTOGENICULOOCCIPITAL WAVES IN RATS

We examined the role of the amygdala in the modulation of sleep and po nto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) waves in the rat. The amygdala projects m assively, via its central nucleus, into brainstem regions involved in alerting and in the generation of rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep and P GO waves. Electrical stimulation of the central nucleus of the amygdal a during REM sleep increased PGO wave amplitude. Stimulation during no n-REM sleep decreased PGO wave frequency. The results indicate that th e amygdala has a role in modulating brainstem neural mechanisms underl ying alerting during sleep. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.