The amygdala and forced immobilization of rats.

Forced immobilization of rats produced changes in the multiple-unit activity in the medial, central and lateral nuclei of the amygdala. Chlordiazepoxide suppressed the activity of these units. Low-level electrical stimulation of the area of these units produced gastric erosions only when the stimulation was applied to the central amygdalar nucleus. It was concluded that these areas of the amygdala respond to the emotional component of immobilization stress.