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The medial amygdala: Serotonergic inhibition of shock‐lnduced aggression and pain sensitivity in rats
Author(s) -
Rodgers R. J.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
aggressive behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.223
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1098-2337
pISSN - 0096-140X
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2337(1977)3:3<277::aid-ab2480030309>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - serotonergic , aggression , amygdala , shock (circulatory) , psychology , medicine , sensitivity (control systems) , neuroscience , serotonin , anesthesia , clinical psychology , psychiatry , receptor , electronic engineering , engineering
Two aspects of the amygdaloid complex (corticomedial and basolateral) were examined with reference to serotonergic inhibition of shock‐induced aggression. Fighting was significantly depressed by serotonergic stimulation (5‐HT, 10 μg bilateral) in the corticomedial amygdala while serotonergic blockade (methysergide, 5 μg bilateral) in this region increased levels of fighting. No consistent effects were obtained with serotonergic manipulation of the basolateral amygdala. Further investigation revealed that the state of serotonergic activity in medial amygdaloid sites was associated with concomitant alterations in the animals' sensitivity to footshock. Results are discussed in relation to a) a general inhibitory role of serotonin in behavioural mechanisms and b) a dopaminergic‐serotonergic balance for behavioural arousal involving medial amygdaloid nuclei.