Circulatory and respiratory changes induced by electrical stimulation of limbic system (visceral brain)
Anand BK and Dua S (1956) Circulatory and respiratory changes induced by electrical stimulation of limbic system (visceral brain). J Neurophysiol 19:5 393–400
First Paragraph: Phylogenetic and cytoarchitectural studies, together with recent physiological investigations, suggest that the limbic system represents an early neural development involved in the higher control of autonomic nervous system and affectively determined behaviour. As these regions have a marked influence over the viscera controlled by the autonomic system, they have been collectively designated as the “visceral brain”. Experimental stimulation of these regions has been shown by various workers to produce circulatory and respiratory changes.
Context
- Animal study in cat and monkey that demonstrated drops in blood pressure (BP) with stimulation of amygdala, hippocampus and other limbic regions. Stimulation of the temporal pole showed a fall in BP in monkeys, a rise in cats. Heart rate also increased or decreased with variable areas of stimulation. Respiratory changes occurred in a subset of animals and were complex. The authors compare their findings with those obtained in a number of related studies beginning with Spencer.