Abstract
Examined the bar-press self-stimulation, shuttle-box preference, and cardiovascular classical conditioning of 2 groups of 6 male rabbits as a function of electrical stimulation of the medial or lateral hypothalamus. Results show that Ss having access to lateral hypothalamic stimulation bar-pressed to receive stimulation and made approach responses in the shuttle box. Ss having access to medial hypothalamic stimulation did not bar-press and made escape responses in the shuttle box. The cardiovascular UCRs of all Ss consisted of a blood-pressure increase and heart-rate decrease; CRs consisted of heart-rate decreases. Thus, while medial and lateral hypothalamic stimulation had different motivational properties, both provided effective UCSs for eliciting similar heart-rate CRs. Data indicate that cardiovascular changes elicited by hypothalamic stimulation are not merely global adjustments to aversive stimulation. (18 ref.)
