Biotelemetry recording of the electrical activity of the hippocampus and amygdala during sexual behavior in the cat

Abstract

Five male and five female cats were anesthetized, and electrodes were implanted in the dorsal hippocampus and the basolateral amygdala. After recovery, a paired female and male were placed in a large playroom in which recordings were taken via biotelemetry during sexual behavior. Each session lasted 4 h or four successful matings, whichever came first. Both amygdala 40-Hz activity and hippocampal rhythmic slow-wave activity (RSA) of 4-5 Hz were very prominent during sexual behavior. Hippocampal RSA was the dominant activity in both male and female cats during all components of sexual behavior except pelvic thrusts just prior to intromission, when hippocampal desynchronization dominated the records. Amygdala 40-Hz activity was the dominant activity in all female and three male cats during all aspects of sexual behavior. Two male cats showed no 40-Hz activity from the point of neck grip until release after intromission, presumably due to the interruption of airflow through nasal passages. The results are discussed in relation to contemporary theories regarding the behavioral correlates of hippocampal RSA and amygdala 40-Hz activity.