Study of inhibitory effect of amygdaloid stimulation on auditory response of medial geniculate body (MGB) and analysis of transmissive pathway of the said effect.

Abstract

Experiments performed on 103 rabbits immobilized with Flaxedil, and the recording of the electrical discharges of single MGB neuron caused by clicks, burst or sustained tone showed marked inhibition of the reaction of 47 out of 75 (62.7%) MGB units responding to sound stimuli, when the amygdaloid complex was stimulated. The latent period of such an inhibitory effect was 5-12 msec and its duration about 2-13 msec. Evoked responses with the latency of 1-2 msec for the stimulation of medial, central and lateral nuclei of amygdala could be recorded from the temporal and parietal cortex. The largest response was recorded from Woolsey's AI area of the temporal cortex. Stimulation of the Woolsey's AI auditory area could also result in a distinct inhibition of the spontaneous as well as the evoked discharges of MGB neurons in response to sound stimulation. Moreover, application of 1% procaine to the surface of auditory cortex could block the inhibitory effect of the amygdala on the MGB neurons. Based on the facts mentioned above, the authors have reason to believe that the inhibitory effect of the amygdaloid complex on the activity of MGB units might be transmitted via the amygdala-auditory cortex-MGB circuit. The biological significance of such an suppressive effect has been discussed.