Electrical stimulation of the amygdala increases the amplitude of elicitedponto-geniculo-occipital waves

The amygdala projects massively via its central nucleus (CNA) into brain st em regions involved in alerting and ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) wave gen eration. Electrical stimulation of CNA is known to enhance the acoustic sta rtle response (ASR) and influence spontaneous PGO waves. The role of the am ygdala in the modulation of ASR and elicited PGO waves (PGO(E)) was investi gated in albino rats. Electrically stimulating CNA within 25 ms prior to an auditory stimulus enhanced ASR and PGO(E) amplitude in a similar way, with the largest response occurring when the electrical and auditory stimuli we re given simultaneously. The data suggest that CNA modulates alerting mecha nisms. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.