Electrophysiological activity accompanying intracranial self-stimulation.

Abstract

Rats were trained to interrupt a light beam for electrical intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) of basomedial forebrain structures. Electroencephalographic activity from cortical and subcortical sites was simultaneously recorded during ICSS sessions. When reinforced behavior is elicited by basomedial forebrain stimulation, there is a concomitant evocation of prominent cortical and subcortical after-discharges. These after-discharges are suggestive of "seizurelike" activity and hypotheses relating this activity to the reinforcing aspects of ICSS are discussed.