Recordings of spontaneous activity and induced arousal in cats with permanently implanted electrodes have failed to demonstrate any effect by reserpine on arousal pathways. Recordings of spontaneous and induced activity of the rhinencephalon have indicated that this region is not involved in any specific fashion by reserpine. Evidence is presented that the miotic effect of reserpine requires the integrity of most of diencephalon but that the effect may be produced with the central sympathetic connections interrupted.