Predatory behavior in the cat elicited by lower brain stem and hypothalamic stimulation: a comparison.

The predatory attack of a cat against a rat elicited by lateral hypothalamic, ventral midbrain and ventromedial periaqueductal gray stimulation has been compared. Regardless of the region stimulated, the attack behaviors were found to be identical with respect to response topography, preference for the rat as an attack object, the distance at which the cats would approach and attack a rat and the success in finding and attacking the rat when the cats were blindfolded. However, the minimum current required to elicit the predatory attack by periaqueductal gray stimulation was 3-4 times less than that required to elicit the same behavior by ventral midbrain and lateral hypothalamic stimulation. The difficulty in reconciling these results with the preeminent role assigned to the hypothalamus in the organization of predatory aggressive behavior was considered.