Behavioural responses to electrical stimulation of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius of the cat.

Electrical stimulation of the region of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) significantly reduced both the lever-pressing rate for substantia nigra self-stimulation and the food-consumption in food-deprived cats. In a shuttle box the cats showed no tendency toward shuttling in response to NTS stimulations with randomly varied stimulus intensities. In contrast with these effects, stimulation to nucleus reticularis paramedianus yielded an aversive effect.