Arousal of consummatory behavior in rabbits by single waves of cortical spreading depression

Abstract

Single waves of unilateral cortical spreading depression were triggered by injecting small amounts of KCl solution through cannulae into either the frontal or occipital cortices of rabbits. The animals were prepared chronically for recording of cortical and hippocampal EEG and D-C steady potential shifts. Waves of spreading depression were frequently accompanied by behavioral arousal and the initiation of eating behavior. This concurs with similar results of electrophoretic injection of K + ions into the occipital cortices of rats. The distribution of onset times of eating, however, was considerably flatter than that found in rats. No significant differences were apparent between mean onset times of behavior induced by occipital and frontal injection of KCl.